Tahiti notched a series of firsts as they qualified the quarter-finals for the first time by winning back-to-back matches after a thrilling victory in extra-time over the USA.
Tahiti opened the scoring and quickly doubled their lead thanks to the efforts of Raimana Li Fung Kuee and Raimoana Bennett. However just as they did against the United Arab Emirates, Tahiti gave their opponents a chance to get back in the match.
The Stars and Stripes got on the board thanks to a deflection off Tahiti’s Angelo Tchen before Tearii Labaste restored the two-goal margin with a stunning overhead kick. Unfortunately USA soon drew level with strikes from Mario Chimienti and
Nicolas Perera forcing the game into overtime.
With penalties looming it came down to two strikes from Patrick Tepa inside the final minute to secure victory for the Tiki Toa and passage to the second stage.
But it wasn’t smooth sailing for their Oceania counterparts as Solomon Islands chased an historic second consecutive victory of their own against a well-drilled Argentina side.
The CONMEBOL champions were first on the board with Jonathan Levi netting after just 48 seconds as his side held the Bilikiki out for much of the first period until 17-year-old wunderkind Anthony Talo knocked the equaliser into an empty Argentinian goal.
Despite the odds Solomon Islands soon flew to a 4-1 lead courtesy of a second from Talo and goals apiece for Robert Laua and Joe Luwi.
Unfortunately for the Bilikiki Argentina were able to draw on the goal-scoring skills of brothers Ezequiel and Frederico Hilaire, who netted three between them, as well as Lucas Medero who finished the match with four goals to his name.
Talo pulled one more back for his side to claim his hat trick but it wasn’t enough to reign in the Argentinans who won 8-5.
Solomon Islands will have to await the results of their final group match against El Salvador in order to learn whether they will be joining Tahiti in the next stage of the tournament.

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