OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 – KURUKURU PUT FIVE PAST FIJI

Fiji put in a brave effort to hold the Oceania Futsal champions to a 1-1 at halftime.

Against the run of play it was Fijian captain Kamal Hassan who opened the scoring for his team in the eighth minute after winning an aerial challenge in the Solomon’s goal circle and reacting quickest to slide the ball past the keeper.

The Solomon Islands drew level on 14 minutes as Jenan Kapu swiveled and shot in one movement just outside the Fijian circle.

Fiji suffered an injury setback less than a minute later when livewire Joseph Mishra fell heavily and was stretched away from the playing area.

As was the case in their opening match against New Caledonia, the Kurukuru managed to lift their intensity substantially in the second half and it paid off just two minutes into the new period as Micah Lea’alafa put his team ahead for the first time.

Lea’alafa and his teammates weren’t ready to stop there, he added a third goal on 29 minutes while captain Elliot Ragomo added a third after 30 minutes and Jack Wetney rounded out the Solomon’s scoring on the half hour.

Fiji were able to add an additional two goals to their total through Mohammed Shalmeen and Kamal Hassan who grabbed his second of the match.

Fiji:  1. Emori RAGATA (GK); 3. Sandeep NAIR; 8. Aisea Dauivalu CODRO; 9. Kamal HASSAN ; 10. Uraia Raimulo LOKI

SUBS: 1. Simone Moce TAMANISAU (GK); 2. Mira SAHIB; 4. Dinesh Chand MUDALIAR; 5. Shivam NATHAN; Mohammed SHALMEEN; 7. Joseph MISHRA; 11. Christopher Junior KUMAR 

Goals: Kamal HASSAN 8′, 39′; Mohammed SHALMEEN 38′

Coach: Imtiaz KHAN (FIJI) 

Solomon Islands: 1. Alick LIOKA (GK); 3. Elliot RAGOMO; 7. James EGETA; 9. Micah LEA’ALAFA; 10. Stanley PUAIRANA

SUBS: 22. Paul HUIA (GK); 2. Philip HOUTARAU; 4. Jenan KAPU; 6. Moffat SIKWA’AE; 8. Francis LAFAI; 11, Ron GINIO; 12. Jack Wetney

Goals: Jenan KAPU 14′; Micah LEA’ALAFA 22′, 29′; Elliot RAGOMO 30′; Jack WETNEY 35′