Young Kulas coach Angeline Chua expressed her admiration for the team’s defensive performance despite their 0-2 loss to Morocco in their final friendly match. This match, sponsored by Digicel Fiji, provided Chua with positives to build on as they prepare for their opening game in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup against Brazil on September 1.
The Young Kulas held Morocco scoreless for over an hour, a notable improvement from their previous encounter with Costa Rica, where they conceded in the first half. “In yesterday’s performance, I think we stayed really nice and compact in the first half and managed to keep the danger out,” Chua stated.
The team’s defensive strategy was executed well, particularly after the central defender Angeline Rekha was sidelined due to a concussion. “The fact that we kept the score nil-all for over an hour, especially after losing Angeline, shows that we’re making progress,” she added.
However, the team’s endurance and mental resilience were tested in the second half, a focal area for improvement ahead of the World Cup. Chua noted, “In the second half, fatigue started to set in, and that’s when we began to commit less on the pitch, allowing them to find gaps to score.”
With less than two days to rest, Chua emphasized the importance of learning from this tough lesson as they prepare for the World Cup. “We’ll continue to focus defensively, especially given the strength of the three opponents we’re going to face in the World Cup. At the same time, we’ll work on finding those little chances to score our goals,” she concluded.
Fiji is placed in Group B alongside Brazil, France, and Canada.