The Solomon Islands began their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Tahiti in Suva. The match opened with a strong performance from the Solomon Islands, as Gracester Kini found the back of the net just three minutes into the game, establishing an early advantage for her team.
In the first half, Tahiti struggled defensively, facing significant pressure from their opponents. Solomon Islands’ forward Joy Toby came close to extending the lead in the 19th minute, but her shot was expertly saved by Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia.
Despite dominating possession and having several scoring chances, including a near miss from Kini, the Solomon Islands had to wait until the second half to secure their victory. Kini maintained her offensive efforts but was unable to score again.
Tahiti attempted to respond, with captain Maerehia Dehors firing a powerful shot that was saved by Solomon Islands’ goalkeeper Fiona Goroani. However, the breakthrough came in the closing stages of the match when Anna Ellen delivered a well-placed free kick that was met by Brenda Areni, who scored the second goal, solidifying the win for the Solomon Islands.
The match concluded with the Solomon Islands displaying a strong team performance, while Tahiti will need to regroup ahead of their next match against New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands will look to build on their success as they prepare to face New Caledonia.