New Zealand’s All Whites will play Vanuatu in the final of the OFC Men’s Nations Cup on Sunday.
The Vanuatu footballers have become instant legends after reaching their first-ever final after defeating Fiji 2-1 in Thursday’s semi-final at VFF Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila.
Main photo: Vanuatu players celebrate their history-making efforts. Photo credit: OFC Media / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand beat Tahiti 5-0 in their semi-final.
READ MORE: All Whites power past Tahiti to clinch place in OFC Men’s Nations Cup final >>>>
Both Fiji and Vanuatu were hoping to write history and qualify for their first final appearance. Fiji’s previous best placement was a third place in 1998 and 2008, while Vanuatu’s top finish was fourth in 2000, 2002 and 2008.
Fiji coach Rob Sherman made two tactical changes with Scott Wara returning to the side and Setareki Hughes replacing Sirusi Nalaubu.
Injuries forced Vanuatu coach Juliano Schmeling to replace Timothy Boulet with Kerry Iawak and Alex Saniel with John Wohale, while goalkeeper Dgen Leo had to make way for James Iamar and Tasso Jeffrey returned at the expense of Michel Coulon.
The large Fiji community in Port Vila had come out in force, while many Vanuatu businesses had shut their doors to allow the locals to support the home side and create a terrific football atmosphere at VFF Freshwater Stadium.
Fiji blasted out of the starting blocks and new Vanuatu goalkeeper Iamar was immediately called into action to save a dipping free-kick from Hughes, and was only able to look on when a smart cross by Filipe Baravilala kissed his crossbar.
Despite all the Fiji dominance, Vanuatu got a golden opportunity from the penalty spot after an infringement on Godine Tenene in the 10th minute, but Bong Kalo only managed to hit the outside of the post.
While the Fijians were still celebrating their let-off, Johnathan Spokeyjack picked up the ball on the right wing, dribbled smartly around defender Ivan Kumar and unleashed a Vanuatu rocket diagonally past the outstretched Isikeli Sevanaia to send the home fans into delirium.
Buoyed by the goal and well-marshalled by their captain Brian Kaltak, Vanuatu got a better grip on the Fijians, who were playing catch-up for the first time in this OFC Men’s Nations Cup campaign.
The large crowd at Freshwater Stadium was treated to a colossal battle between Kaltak and Fiji’s own talisman Roy Krishna, who had to feed off crumbs against the Australia A-League champion centre-back.
Vanuatu continued to threaten on the break, with Spokeyjack being denied a brace by a goal-saving tackle from Kumar, before Tenene wasted a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half-time.
Fiji were level within 44 seconds after coming out of the changing rooms.
Krishna laid off a teasing cross from Nabil Begg to set up Sitivenu Cavuilagi, who struck a screamer from the edge of the box to score his first international goal and set up a mouthwatering second half.
After weathering a brief Fijian storm, the shell-shocked Vanuatu team slowly regathered their composure and regained the lead through Jason Thomas in the 57th minute.
The goal was a carbon copy of the one that defeated the Solomon Islands in the group stage, with Tenene again delivering a pinpoint corner for the defender to glance home at the near post.
The semi-final turned into a pulsating end-to-end battle between the increasingly desperate Fijians and the hosts trying to put the game to bed on their fast breaks.
Both sets of passionate fans were near boiling point as the match reached the closing stages, screaming at every tackle, pass, shot and save.
The biggest cheer, however, was reserved for New Zealand referee Campbell Kirk Kawana-Waugh, blowing the full-time whistle to record a historic victory and start all-night parties in kava bars around Port Vila.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful for the help of OFC Media in providing information for this story.
Results
Games played on Thursday June 27, 2024
OFC Men’s Nations Cup
Semi-finals
New Zealand 5 (Finn Surman 7′, Ben Waine 45′, 53′, Kosta Barbarouses 45+3′, 72′)
Tahiti 0
Fiji 1 (Sitiveni Cavullagi 46′)
Vanuatu 2 (Johnathan Spokejack 12′, Jason Thomas 57′)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Sunday June 30, 2024
Play-off for third place
Tahiti v Fiji
VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 12pm (NZT)
Final
New Zealand v Vanuatu
VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 4pm (NZT)
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