The defending Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Beach Soccer champions have been beaten in their opening match at Narrow Neck Beach today.
Last year Vanuatu inflicted a similar opening day defeat of the eventual tournament champions but this time around the achievement was made more special after Jean Maleb and his team fought back from
2-0 down to win 3-2.
Solomon Islands hero James Naka opened his beach soccer account with a sensational double strike.
However, the Bilikiki Boys´joy was short-lived when the Masauvakalo brothers combined to set up a grandstand finish scoring twice in quick succession for Vanuatu to draw the game level.
Both teams missed gilt-edged chances in the dying moments of the third period and just as the match appeared headed for a draw, up popped Vanuatu´s Derek Malas to score the winner with just 15
seconds remaining.
Tahiti got their campaign off to a flying start with Teva Zaveroni smashing four goals past an inexperienced New Zealand side as the French-Polynesians cruised to a convincing 9-5 win.
New Zealand´s Daniel Ellensohn chimed in with a debut hat-trick for the Kiwis but it wasn´t enough as Thierry Qaeze, Billy Mataitai, Raimana Lee Fung Kuee, Johann Pentillon and an own goal,
ironically scored by the otherwise impressive Ellensohn, rounded off the scoring.
Nathan Fry and Michael Gwyther were New Zealand´s other goalscorers.