Young Kulas coach Angeline Chua expressed her satisfaction with her team’s defensive performance, even though they lost their final friendly match to Morocco 0-2. Chua noted that despite the defeat, there were positive takeaways that they can build upon ahead of their first match in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup against Brazil on September 1.
The Digicel Fiji-sponsored team held a scoreless tie for over an hour, marking an improvement compared to their previous match against Costa Rica, where they conceded goals in the first half. “In today’s performance, we stayed compact in the first half and managed to keep them from scoring,” said Chua.
Key players adapted well to the defensive strategy, particularly after central defender Angeline Rekha was sidelined due to a concussion. “We executed our defensive plan effectively, which was crucial against a team like Morocco. Maintaining a nil-all scoreline for so long, particularly after losing Angeline, highlights our progress,” she remarked.
However, the team faced challenges in the second half, where fatigue affected their performance, allowing Morocco to exploit gaps and score. “It’s a tough lesson, especially with less than two days of rest, but we will learn from it as we prepare for the World Cup,” Chua added.
Looking ahead, the Young Kulas are now focused on the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where they will compete against some of the world’s strongest teams. “We will continue to prioritize our defensive strategies, especially considering the caliber of the teams in our group. At the same time, we’ll work on capitalizing on opportunities to score,” the coach stated. Fiji is placed in Group B along with Brazil, France, and Canada.