The Solomon Islands have put the pressure back on Vanuatu in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship in Suva after recording an exciting 4-2 victory over Tahiti on Match Day Six of the tournament.
With one game to play both the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are locked on twelve points and if both sides win tomorrow the championship will be determined by goal difference.
Vanuatu has the better goal difference but must overcome a combative Tahiti team while the Solomon Islands face winless Tuvalu in a quest to make up the twelve goal difference that separates the two top sides.
The gripping final day of action will see the winner represent OFC at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil in September.
In other Match Day Six action Fiji overcame Tuvalu 13-2 while New Caledonia ended their tournament with a 3-2 loss to New Zealand.
In the focal point of the afternoon Micah Lea’alafa struck first blood for the Solomon’s in the third minute with a rocket of a shot past Tahiti goalkeeper Rehia Davio. Jenan Kapu made it two in the ninth minute before Tahiti responded one minute later through Matana Bea.
James Egeta restored the Solomon Islands two goal buffer in the 25th minute but once again Tahiti bounced right back and just 30 seconds later Bea had scored his second of the night and created a nail biting final fifteen minutes. Jack Wetney eventually killed the game off with a goal in the last minute.
Kamal Hassan scored an incredible eight goals in Fiji’s 13-2 win over Tuvalu in the opening game of the day.
The Rewa striker scored the first five goals of the match in a one-man-assault on the Tuvalu backline before Neemia Onosemu pulled one back for Tuvalu just before halftime.
Mira Sahib, Sandeep Sanjesh Nair, Azmat Begg and Assis Chand added to the scoreline in the second half for Fiji while Tuvalu scored two late consolation goals through Semalie Fotu and Paitela Kelemene.
In the final match of the day New Caledonia opened the scoring in the eight minute thanks to an own goal by New Zealand defender Marvin Eakins.
New Zealand equalised soon after when Joshua Martin poked home from close range. New Zealand took the lead in the 17th minute when Victor Zaia provided reward for a dominating spell of possession.
Bakr Al Saudi scored his ninth goal of the tournament with five minutes remaining before Edouard Muracciolii created a nervous final five minutes for New Zealand with a late goal.
Tahiti will face Vanuatu in the first match of the final day tomorrow at 14H00 Local time.
OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
| PL |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
|
| VAN |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
28 |
6 |
+22 |
12 |
| SOL |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
29 |
19 |
+10 |
12 |
| TAH |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
11 |
+8 |
10 |
| NZL |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
21 |
12 |
+9 |
9 |
| FIJ |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
27 |
30 |
-3 |
6 |
| NCL |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
22 |
30 |
-8 |
4 |
| TUV |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
45 |
-38 |
0 |
Tournament Leading Scorers
No Name Team Goals
9 Kamal HASSAN FIJ 13
10 Jack Vira Ala VAN 9
14 Bakr Al Saudi NZL 9
9 Micah Lea’alafa SOL 8
6 Derek Malas VAN 7
3 Elliot Ragomo SOL 6
8 Yvan Pourouoro NCL 6
Match One – Fiji v Tuvalu
FIJ: 2. Mira SAHIB; 3. Sandeep Sanjesh NAIR; 5. Nayzal Siga Ali; 9. Kamal HASSAN;12. Nishad Wasim ALI (GK);
SUBS: 1. Azmat BEGG (RGK); 6. Assis CHAND; 8. Muni Arvindra NAIDU; 10. Dinesh Chand MUDALIAR; 11. Imtiaz BEGG;
Coach: Imtiaz KHAN (FIJ)
Goals: 9. Kamal HASSAN 9’, 10’, 12’, 18’, 19’; 26’, 37’, 40’; 2. Mira SAHIB 20’; 3. Sandeep Sanjesh NAIR 27’, 6. Assis CHAND 36’;
Absent: 4. Alvin AVINESH; 7. Vikash PRASAD;
TUV: 1. Sopepe TAILOLO; 3. Tioti Maati TOAFA; 11. Imo FIAMALUA; 19. Mahanga TEIAPUTI; 21. Maio ETIMANI;
SUBS: 2. Felo FEOTO; 5.Mau PENISULA; 6. Paitela KELEMENE; 8. Peniuna KAITU; 9. Starchel SOLOSENI; 10. Semalie FOTU; 17.
Neemia ONOSEMU; 22. Peniuna KAITU;
Coach: Toakai PUAPUA(TUV)
Goals: 8. Peniuna KAITU 17’;
Referee: Stephan PARAGE (NCL)
2nd Referee: Teihotu TAEREA (TAH)
3rd Referee: Jamie CROSS (NZL)
Timekeeper: Peter L. PAKOATONG (VAN)
Referees’ Assessor: Neil POLOSO (SOL)
Match Two – Tahiti v Solomon Islands
TAH: 1. Rehia DAVIO (GK); 3. Jimmy RIARIA; 4. Romeo PATIRA; 6. Michel MAIHURI; 7. Steeven TINO;
SUBS: 2. Matana BEA; 5. Lysis TAUHA; 8. Tetuanui TINOMOE; 9. Lorama BEA; 10. Usiera PUKOKI; 11. Amau TETUANUI; 12. Fernand TUANUA;
Coach: Rani BEA (TAH)
Goals: 2. Matana BEA 10’, 25’;
SOL: 1. Alick LIOKA (GK); 3. Elliot RAGOMO; 7. James EGETA; 9. Micah LEA’ALAFA; 12. Jack WETNEY;
SUBS: 2. Phillip HOUTARAU; 4. Alfred PUNGUIKA; 5. Jenan KAPU; 6. Maffat SIKW’AE; 8.Francis LAFAI; 11. Ron GINIO; 13. StanleyPUAIRANA (RGK)
Coach: Victor WAI’IA (SOL)
Goals: 9. Micah LEA’ALAFA 3’; 5. Jenan KAPU 9’; 7. James EGETA 25’; 12. Jack WETNEY;
Referee: Chris COLLEY (AUS)
2nd Referee: Francois TROLLIARD (NCL)
3rd Referee: Amitesh BEHARI (FIJ)
Timekeeper: Rajnish DAVE (FIJ)
Referees’ Assessor: Chandra SEGRAN (FIJ)
Match Three – New Caledonia v New Zealand
NCL: 1. Ronan EUZEN (GK); 3. Alexandre ROSSO; 4. Albert HNAILOLO; 5. Jerry IARUEL; 7. Edouard MURACCIOLII;
SUBS: 2. Jean Phillipe WEMAMA; 6. Benoit MOGLIA; 8. Yvan POUROUORO; 9. Yoan GARIN; 10. Marcias GINO RENE; 11. Stevens GUILLEMIN; 16. Ronald GAYON (RGK);
Goals: Own Goal 4. Marvin Eakins (NZL); 7. Edouard MURACCIOLII 36’;
Coach: Michalak ERIC (NCL)
NZL: 1. Elias BILLEH (GK); 4. Marvin EAKINS; 8. Joshua MARTIN; 10. Ouadhah RAGUED; 14. Bakr Al SAUDI;
SUBS: 20. Clayton CHAPPELL (RGK); 5. Yukin NAIDOO; 3. Andrew GWILLIAM; 19. Michael CORRINGHAM; 12. Luke FIELD; 17. Victor ZAIA; 23. Gregory O’CONNOR;
Goals: 8. Joshua MARTIN 9’, 17. Victor ZAIA 27’; 14. Bakr Al SAUDI 35’;
Coach: Erkin Osman (AUS)
Referee: Allan ALICK (VAN)
2nd Referee: Scott KIDSON (AUS)
3rd Referee: Peter L. PAKOATONG (VAN)
Timekeeper: Amitesh BEHARI (FIJ)
Referees’ Assessor: Chandra SEGRAN (FIJ)