OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 – FIJI AND SOLOMONS START WITH WINS

SUVA – Host nation Fiji and defending defending champions Solomon Islands are both off to winning starts in contrasting fashion at the OFC Futsal Championship.

Fiji were made to battle hard throughout their match against Vanuatu in the tournament opener.

The hosts eventually came away 2-1 winners thanks to second half goals from Sandeep Nair and Shivam Nathan in the first match of the night.

Vanuatu were frustrated by a series of excellent saves from Fijian keeper Simione Moce Tamanisau whose best moments came with two outstanding full-stretch reflex saves – one in each half – that showcased his value.

Ironically Tamanisau made only one mistake to blot his copybook in the match, hesitating with a clearance which immediately led to his conceding an embarrassing 39th minute consolation goal to Vanuatu’s Vira Jack Ala.

2008 OFC Futsal Championship golden boot winner and Fiji captain Kamal Hassan knew his team had room for improvement but was pleased to see his team off to a wining start. 

“Our first half wasn’t that good but the second half was much better. Over-all I think it was a pretty good performance for our first game, we worked hard and used our possession better after halftime,” Hassan told OFC.

The night’s second match saw Oceaina’s reigning Futsal Champs the Solomon Islands reverse a 2-3 halftime deficit against New Caledonia with a devastating second half haul of five unanswered goals.

The Kurukurus went up a gear in the second to clinch an 8-3 win with captain Elliot Ragomo and Micah Lea’alafa scoring a brace each.

Solomon Islands coach Dickson Kadau was pleased with his team’s response to his halftime speech.

“The boys lost the tempo a little bit (in the first half) and allowed New Caledonia too much possession of the ball. At halftime I told them to take better care of the ball, to make them (New Caledonia) run more. The more we kept the ball the more our confidence came back and we kept them in their half. The boys did what I told them in the changing rooms,” Kadau said.

Fiji v Vanuatu