Samoa and Solomon Islands finish OFC U-16 Men's Championship with wins

Samoa and the Solomon Islands have secured wins in their final games at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti.

Samoa beat the Cook Islands 2-1 to take fifth place at the eight-nation tournament.

The Solomon Islands took seventh place, with a 1-0 win against Vanuatu who will need to go through a preliminary tournament to qualify for next year’s OFC U-16 Men’s Championship.

Main photo: Samoa end their tournament on a high. Photo credit: OFC Media / DJ Mills / Phototek.

Early goals get Samoa to win against Cook Islands

Samoa have ended their campaign at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti on a high with a 2-1 win over Cook Islands in the play-off for 5th place.

Most of the goalmouth action happened in the first ten minutes as Samoa made use of a strong wind at their backs at Papeete’s Stade Fautaua.

In the 6th minute, a long ball was played through to Bevan Jr Kapisi, who chested down superbly and, in one swift movement, planted the ball into the back of the net.

The Cook Islands barely had time to catch their breath before they were two goals down.

Kapisi had his second, getting in behind the defence to latch on to a cross and tap past Tom Tetini in the Cook Islands goal from the six-yard box in the 8th minute.

Shell shocked from their horror start, the Cook Islands gathered themselves and slowly worked their way into the game.

*Photo credit: OFC Media / DJ Mills / Phototek.*

They created their first real chance in the 40th minute when captain Temata Rouru’s free-kick rattled off the crossbar.

Just before the break Samoa’s Micah Fa’afiu attempted to latch onto a cross in a dangerous position, but his shot sliced wide of the goal, and it remained 2-0 at the break.

Playing into the breeze in the second half the Samoans adopted a more defensive mindset, and the Cook Islanders enjoyed most of the possession with Samoa content to try to catch them on the break.

It was Fa’afiu who had a good chance for Samoa to put the game to bed, but he pulled his shot wide in the 67th minute and later, substitute Suia Kelemeni Adam found himself open inside the box but fired straight at the keeper.

Cook Islands gave themselves a glimmer of late hope, when Tahitoa Webb converted from the penalty spot but Samoa held on to secure a deserved 5th-place finish.

Penalty decides battle for seventh place

A 73rd-minute penalty from captain Kennedy Sihiu has secured the Solomon Islands a 1-0 win over Vanuatu and 7th place at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti.

There was plenty riding on the match, with the loser relegated to playing in the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship Qualifying tournament next year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a tense and closely fought affair from the outset.

The Solomon Islands had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 6th minute when Carlwin Wane hit the post after being set up by Allen Makana.

Vanuatu captain Jefpta Taravaki then unleashed a stinger of a shot in the 16th minute that Solomon Islands keeper did well to tip past the left-hand post.

*Solomon Islands’ Kennedy Sihiu with teammates after his match-winning penalty.* *Photo credit: OFC Media / DJ Mills / Phototek.*

In the 30th minute, Makana forced a great save out of Junior Kaltaliu in the Vanuatu goal with a stinging right-foot effort that was tipped over the bar.

Solomon Islands thought they had a penalty when Ashley Kwaimasia went down in the box, but it wasn’t given, and the two teams went to the break scoreless.

Vanuatu substitute Yajima Tug conjured up his side’s best effort in the second half when he received a bobbling ball on the edge of the box and fired the ball just wide of the upright to the relief of Eddie Ngava Aefi in the Solomon Islands goal.

With the match seemingly heading for a penalty shootout, Ashley Kwaimasia was pushed in the box and his captain stepped up and converted from the spot for what proved to be the decisive goal for Solomon Islands

Jerryson Paiataure almost levelled for Vanuatu with 12 minutes remaining after a jinking run into the box, but his rasping effort went just wide.