LAUTOKA – Its the final match of the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament and host nation Fiji prepare to face Solomon Islands in the battle for second place.
New Zealand’s qualification for Beijing is dependent upon approval by New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) next week adding extra importance to this match in terms of final placings.
Solomon Islands is missing Nelson Sale, Benjamin Totori and Alick Maemae to suspension as Michael Fifi gets his first start of the tournament.
Osea Vakatalesau and Avinesh Waran Suwamy are also suspended for Fiji. Juan Carlos Buzzetti has dropped Alvin Singh who is on one yellow card but has otherwise played well throughout this tournament.
LIVE TEXT UPDATES:
0′- A stirring rendition of both national anthemns concludes with Solomon Islands in blue and attacking the scoreboard end of Churchill Park
1′- Great chance for Fiji but somehow they’ve missed it right out in front of goal
4′- A scrappy start to this match so far with neither side in the ascendency
5′- Solomon Islands concede a corner by Arnold Keni
6′- GOAL! Roy Krishna heads into the Solomon Islands net completely unchallenged! 1-0 to Fiji!
8′- Deep cross into the Solomon Islands box and Dunadamu hits the crossbar and the ball is cleared!
10′- Solomon Islands are struggling without Maemae and Totori
12′- Fiji defend a corner and make a fast break through Roy Krishna and win a corner – taken by Ramoni
13′- Fast break by Solomon Islands through Eddie Ngaitini who slips a pass in for Michael Fifi but its saved by Lawrence
16′- Fifi holds off a defender and shoots but Lawrence saves!
19′- Maciu Damudamu is through on goal but holds onto the ball too long and Solomon Islands defender makes a last gasp block tackle
20′- Damudamu has a shot but Ramoni saves – Damudamu gathers the rebound and shoots – saved again!
21′- Fiji has taken control of this match
23′-GOAL! Maciu Dunadamu heads into the back of the net after a great nod down by Posiano
24′- YELLOW CARD 5. Krishna SAMY – Fiji
26′- Nicholas Lawrence miskicks and Joses Nawo tries his luck but Lawrence regathers
28′- GOAL! Joachim WAROI is put through on Lawrence and finishes with the outside of his right boot – game on!
30′- A shot by Joses Nawo is deflected out for a corner and Lawrence claims the resulting kick and Fiji attack
31′- Solomon Islands scramble back to defend in numbers and launch a counter attack of their own
31′- Roy Krishna’s cross is mis-kicked by Dunadamu and what should have been on target goes wide!
32′- This is end to end stuff – first Michael Fifi attacks and shoots at Lawrence, then Fiji break through Krishna but he’s offside
33′- Malakai Tiwa has taken a knock and it down – Fiji will be hoping he is alright
36′- Tiwa is back in action and the pace of the match has slowed as the teams consolidate
38′- Solomon Islands Michael Fifi is playing a great game for his country – quick, strong and a clever passer
39′- GOAL! Solomon Islands are level! And its Michael Fifi! A deceptive shimmy on his right and a left foot thunder clap and its 2-2!
42′- GOAL! Extraordinary! A Michael Fifi near post header is headed past Lawrence by Joachim Waroi! Its 3-2 to Solomon Islands! – this match is a classic!
44′- Malakai Tiwa is struggling – he could be replaced – Juan Carlos Buzzetti will be dismayed at losing a 2-0 lead like this
TIME ADDED ON: 1 minute
45′- Corner for Solomon Islands is hit to the far post but no one is there
45+1′- Joachim Rande flies into a reckless challenge on Krishna Samy – that was a wince inducing challenge – this could be a red card from Referee Michael Hester for Rande…
45+1′- RED CARD 19. Joachim RANDE – Solomon Islands
HALFTIME: SOL 3 FIJ 2
46′- Second half restarts with no changes to either side – can Solomon Islands hang on for victory with ten men?
49′- Posiano shows great skill in the corner
54′- YELLOW CARD 3. Shameel RAO – Fiji
For a foul on Arnold Keni
55′- Shadrock Ramoni makes a brilliant save from Krishna but he’s taken a head knock and he’s out cold
55′- SUBSTITUTION 1. Shadrock RAMONI [gk] out, 22. Leon LEKEZOTO [rgk] in – Solomon Islands
57′- Great save by Nicholas Lawrence who parries the ball in the air and then makes an acrobatic bicycle kick under pressure from Krishna
57′- SUBSTITUTION 11. Kalasito POSIANO out, 8. Alvin SINGH in – Fiji
59′- Shot at goal by Solomon Islands is saved by Lawrence
61′- YELLOW CARD 13. Eddie NGAITINI – Solomon Islands for a foul on Roy Krishna
62′- Michael Fifi on the break for Solomon Islands but Shameel Rao wins the ball back for Fiji
63′- Shot by Nawo but its harmlessly wide
64′- There is still plenty of drama to come here at Churchill Park – both teams are giving it everything
66′- Alvin Singh crosses to the far post but but Malakai Tiwa heads wide! Tiwa should have done better!
67′- Malakai Tiwa beats his defender and crosses but he overhits it
69′- Fiji in the ascendancy once again dominating possession but even with ten players Solomon Islands look dangerous
Cross by Alvin Singh – Roy Krishna’s half volley is blocked by Leon Lekezoto the substitute goalkeeper!
70′- Solomon Islands break through Joses Nawo he only has Nicholas Lawrence to beat – he’s blasted it wide!
71′- Fiji on the counter attack with Alvin Singh – this crowd is right in behind the home side
72′- YELLOW CARD 6. Ranjil CHAND – Fiji for a foul on John Wayne
73′- Krishna is through on goal – he must score…no Lekezoto blocks him!
73′- Joses Nawo breaks and he is past Ranjil Chand but he can’t trouble Lawrence in goal
74′- SUBSTITUTION 17. Maciu DUNADAMU out 9. Leone DAMUDAMU – Fiji
77′- This match has been frenetic from start to finish and shows no sign of letting – can the ten men of Solomon Islands hold out for an historic victory?
78′- SUBSTITUTION 4. Uraia RAIMULU in 16. Malakai TIWA out – Fiji
80′- Free kick to the far post after Ngaitini fouls Alvin Singh but Lekezoto saves
82′- Joses Nawo is caught offside – no complaints about that call
83′- Lekezoto has played a great game since coming on for Solomon Islands
83′- RED CARD 3. Shameel RAO – Fiji is red carded for a foul on Joses NAWO
86′- Fiji just cannot penetrate this defence – and now both teams are level in terms of numbers on the pitch
87′- Roy Krishna evades Joachim Waroi and whips in a great cross but
87′- SUBSTITUTION 20. Gibson HOSEA 12. Charles MAEBULE in – Solomon Islands
88′- Roy Krishna goes on a run and shoots but hits the side-netting! Agony for the home crowd!
TIME ADDED ON: 5 minutes
90′- This match has been pulsating from start to finish and it looks like we’ll get five more minutes because of the stoppage of play when Shadrock Ramoni took a head knock
91+’- Joachim Waroi wins a corner for Solomon Islands – he has been immense for his country tonight, what a performance!
92+’- Solomon Islands shoot but it goes wide
93+’- Free kick for Solomon Islands deep in Fiji territory but its a poor delivery and Fiji clear
95’+- Last chance for Fiji…Referee Michael Hester is checking his watch….its all over! Solomon Islands has won a dramatic victory here at Churchill Park after trailing Fiji 2-0 they have bounced back with ten men to record a classic 3-2 victory over the host nation.
That concludes coverage of the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament – Fiji 2008 – from Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji, good night – it’s been a pleasure bringing you all the action!
OFC MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Gordon Glen Watson
FULLTIME: SOL 3 FIJ 2
OFC MEN’S OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT
MATCH NO.15
SOLOMON ISLANDS vs FIJI
CHURCHILL PARK
LAUTOKA
FIJI
KICK-OFF: 17H00 (FIJI TIME)
SOL: 1. Shadrock RAMONI; 3. Stanton HILA; 4. Arnold KENI; 10. Franklyn FORAU; 11. Michael FIFI; 13. Eddie NGAITINI; 15. Joachim WAROI; 16. John WAYNE; 17. Joses NAWO; 19. Joachim RANDE; 20. Gibson HOSEA.
SUBS: 8. Nathan KERA; 12. Charles MAEBULA; 22. Leon LEKEZOTO.
INJURED: 5. Haddis AENGARI
ABSENT: 18. John ANTA; 23. Eddie RAMO [rgk].
COACH: Luke EROI (SOL)
CAUTIONS:
RED CARDS:
GOALS:
FIJ: 2. Esava NAQALECA; 3. Shameel RAO; 5. Krishna SAMY; 6. Ranjil CHAND; 11. Kalasito POSIANO; 12. Malakai WAQA; 14. Roy KRISHNA; 16. Malakai TIWA; 17. Maciu DUNADAMU; 18. Shivan SWAMY; 20. Nicholas LAWRENCE [gk].
SUBS: 1. Benaminio MATEINAQARA [rgk]; 4. Uraia RAIMULU; 8. Alvin SINGH; 9. Leone DAMUDAMU; 13. Joseph MISHRA; 15. Elvin PRASAD; 19. Ratu Josevata DUGUCAGI.
COACH: Juan Carlos BUZZETTI (AUS)
CAUTIONS:
RED CARDS:
GOALS:
REFEREE: Michael HESTER (NZL)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Tevita MAKASINI (TGA)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Michael JOSEPH (VAN)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Peter O’LEARY (NZL)