Young Kulas coach Angeline Chua expressed satisfaction with her team’s defensive performance despite a 0-2 loss to Morocco in a recent friendly match. Chua noted that the Digicel Fiji-sponsored team managed to hold a scoreless draw for over an hour, showcasing improvements compared to their earlier match against Costa Rica, where they conceded goals in the first half.
“In today’s performance, we were compact in the first half and effectively kept the danger out, preventing them from scoring,” Chua commented. The team’s defensive strategy held strong even after central defender Angeline Rekha had to leave the match due to a concussion.
“We executed our defensive plan well, which was crucial against a team like Morocco. The fact that we maintained a nil-all score until more than an hour in, especially after losing Angeline, demonstrates our progress,” she added.
However, the team’s fitness and mental resilience were tested in the second half, where fatigue led to lapses in their performance, ultimately allowing Morocco to score. Chua acknowledged the lesson learned and emphasized the need for improvement in preparation for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
“We had less than two days to rest, but we will take everything onboard as we prepare for the World Cup,” she said.
The Young Kulas are now focusing their efforts on the World Cup, where they will face formidable opponents. “We will maintain our focus defensively in light of the strength of our three opponents in the World Cup. At the same time, we will work on capitalizing on opportunities to score. We know it will be a challenging tournament, but we are committed to giving our best,” the national head coach stated.
Fiji is placed in Group B along with Brazil, France, and Canada.