LAUTOKA – Fiji will face its crucial match with Vanuatu without two of its star performers Osea Vakatalesau and Avinesh Swamy after both were red carded against Cook Islands today.
Fiji’s 9-0 win helped keep its Beijing dream alive but victory came at a cost after both Swamy and Vakatalesau were sent off in a dramatic first-half of action that also saw Cook Islands lose John Battailard after the midfielder became involved in an off the ball incident with Swamy.
With Fiji’s superiority never in doubt the numerical disadvantage and the surreal atmosphere within Churchill Park itself combined to produce an insipid performance in a half more memorable for players departing the arena than running onto it.
Fortunately for Fiji the performances of Malakai Tiwa in pressure situations has restored calm when the pressure has been turned up a notch. Tiwa – who has scored more than his fair share of goals – continued to link up play in a Fiji side that has so far only played in fits and starts.
Prior to the red card coach Buzzetti was less than happy with Fiji’s profligacy in front of goal and opted to throw benched captain Osea Vakatalesau into the fray to try and provide some inspiration – it had the opposite effect as Vakatalesau was sent off for hurling verbal abuse at a linesman.
With Fiji reduced to nine men, Cook Islands were still unable to get forward and threaten Fiji’s goal. Paavo Mustonen had two efforts from long range miss Nicholas Lawrence’s upright by less than a metre or so, but they were hardly a realistic threat to Fiji’s goal.
Roy Krishna scored his first goal of the tournament to help settle nerves, but the usually threatening Krishna has looked anything but effective in the top third, most of his best work hatched in midfield.
Krishna, Maciu Dunadamu, Alvin Singh and Tiwa gave Remi Wearing a testing afternoon and the likeable Cook Islands keeper spent most of it throwing himself in front of Fijian players bravely trying to keep the score respectable.
Singh opened the scoring after 16 minutes and made it two on 23 minutes but there was no suggestion of the mayhem to come. Krishna’s 39th minute left foot rocket had Fiji in easy street but the 15th minute red cards for Avinesh Swamy and John Bataillard – and then Vakatalesau’s in the 39th minute – will be the events most remembered.
Gichin Fuhiniu of Cook Islands then joined Swamy, Vakatalesau and Bataillard in the red card club and it was nine against nine. By now the pitch had a rather empty look to it but to Fiji’s credit they continued to probe for goals and they duly arrived.
Alvin Singh completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes, Tiwa added another on 59 minutes and Shameel Rao made it 6-0 on 66 minutes as Cook Islands wilted in the oppressive heat. Malakai Tiwa completed his hat-trick with a quick fire two goals on 75 and 76 minutes.
Krishna Samy completed the rout on 81 minutes, Fiji salvaging its goal difference but now without Avinesh Samy and Osea Vakatalesau for what is looming as a do-or-die match with Vanuatu.
INTERVIEW – FIJI COACH JUAN CARLOS BUZZETTI
Click here to listen to Juan Carlos Buzzetti
INTERVIEW – COOK ISLANDS COACH TIM JERKS
CLick here to listen to Tim Jerks
INTERVIEW – COOK ISLANDS GOALKEEPER REMI WEARING
Click here to listen to Remi Wearing
OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament
Match No. 7
Fiji vs. Cook Islands
Churchill Park
Lautoka
Fiji
Kick-off: 14H30
FIJ: 3. Shameel RAO; 4. Uraia RAIMULU (18. Shivan SWAMY 73’;) 5. Krishna SAMY; 7. Avinesh Waran SUWAMY; 8. Alvin SINGH; 12. Malakai WAQA; 14. Roy KRISHNA; 16. Malakai TIWA; 17. Maciu DUNADAMU (10. Osea VAKATALESAU 31’); 19. Ratu Josevata DUGUCAG (I9. Leone DAMUDAMU 69’) ; 20. Nicholas LAWRENCE [rgk]
SUBS: 1. Benaminio MATEINAQARA; 2. Esava NAQALECA; 6. Ronjil CHAND;; 11. Kalasito POSIANO; 13. Joseph MISHRA; 15. Elvin PRASAD;
Coach: Juan Carlos BUZZETTI (AUS)
Cautions: 8. Alvin Singh;
Red Cards: 7. Avinesh Waran SUWAMY; 10. Osea VAKATALESAU;
Goals: 8. Alvin SINGH 14’, 22’;58’; 14. Roy KRISHNA; 16. Malakai TIWA 59’, 75’, 76’; 3. Shameel RAO 66’, 5. Krishna SAMY;
COK: 1. Remi WEARING; 2. Mii JOSEPH; 5. Adrian SHEPERD; 6. Joseph LE MOUTON; 8. Grover HARMON (7. Davey SILA 62’); 9. Paavo MUSTONEN; 11. John Michael QUIJANO; 14. John BATAILLARD; 15. Gichin FUHINIU; 17. Ngatamaine SILA (16. Ngatungane TANGIMETUA 70’).; 18. Jim ABRAHAM (12. Branden TUREPU 45’)
SUBS: 13. Roger MANUEL;
Coach: Tim JERKS (AUS)
Injured: 19. Tuka TISAM
Suspended: 10. Thomas LE MOUTON; 3. Eddie BROGAN.
Absent: 4. Steve WILLIS.
Cautions: 15. Gichin FUHINIU 10’, 56’, 9; Paavo MUSTONEN 69’
Red Cards: 14. John BATAILLARD 14’; Gichin FUHINIU 55’;
Goals: None
Referee: Andrew MOLI (SOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Hillary ANI (PNG)
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew TARO (SOL)
Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN (PNG)
OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
STANDINGS
|
|
PL. |
W. |
D. |
L. |
GF. |
GA. |
PTS. |
GD. |
|
|
1. |
Solomon Islands |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
1 |
9 |
|
|
2. |
New Zealand |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
3 |
9 |
+6 |
|
3. |
Fiji |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
3 |
6 |
+14 |
|
4. |
Vanuatu |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
-3 |
|
5. |
Papua New Guinea |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
0 |
-14 |
|
6. |
Cook Islands |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
24 |
0 |
-24 |
GOLDEN SHOE AWARD
|
No. |
Player |
Country |
Goals |
|
21. |
Benjamin TOTORI |
SOL |
10 |
|
16. |
Malakai TIWA |
FIJ |
7 |
|
7. |
Alick MAEMAE |
SOL |
4 |
|
8. |
Alvin SINGH |
FIJ |
3 |
|
18. |
Costa BARBAROUSES |
NZL |
3 |
|
17. |
Joses NAWO |
SOL |
3 |
|
17.. |
Maciu DUNADAMU |
FIJ |
2 |
|
3. |
Shameel RAO |
FIJ |
2 |
|
10. |
Jeremy BROCKIE |
NZL |
2 |
|
17. |
Daniel ELLENSOHN |
NZL |
2 |
|
14. |
Raymond GUNEMBA |
PNG |
2 |
|
115. |
Joachim RANDE |
SOL |
2 |
|
15. |
Joachim WAROI |
SOL |
2 |
|
11. |
Jeffry NIMANIAN |
VAN |
2 |
|
14. |
Roy KRISHNA |
FIJ |
1 |
|
5. |
Krishna SAMY |
FIJ |
1 |
|
10. |
Cole PEVERLEY |
NZL |
1 |
|
7. |
Steven OLD |
NZL |
1 |
|
13. |
Mathias APO |
PNG |
1 |