Fiji and Tahiti have ended their campaigns at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championships with victories.
Hosts Fiji secured a 1-0 win against Solomon Islands to take 5th place at the eight-nation tournament, while Tahiti headed Cook Islands 2-1 to take 7th place.
The play-offs leave only two games to play at the championship, Saturday’s play-off for third place and the tournament final between New Zealand and Samoa.
Main photo: Though they lost their final game, the Cook Islands could celebrate taking the lead in their play-off with Tahiti. Photo credit: OFC Media / Phototek.
Fiji edge Solomon Islands in play-off for fifth
A trademark Sisilia Tuvou Kuladina free-kick provided Fiji with their 1-0 win against Solomon Islands.
With Fiji and Solomon Islands narrowly missing out on the semi-finals, and both teams having proved themselves to be difficult to break through, the play-off for 5th place was set to be a tight affair.
Solomon Islands plans were disrupted with a late change to the starting eleven, which saw Bella Fa’arodo replace Joyce Siosi for her first Solomon Islands start.
It was a close, robust first half, in which neither team was willing to surrender space to the other, epitomised by a clash of heads that saw Fiji goalkeeper Miliana Maramanikabu replaced by Aliana Vakaloma after just half an hour.
Gracester Kini and Joy Toby Solo were the most likely combination to unpick a defence, while Rose Laba was busy on the left wing. For Fiji, Sisilia Kuladina was lively in the first quarter.
With little created in terms of clear cut chances — though Solomon Islands hit the woodwork off a corner — the teams went into the break level.
The Solomon Islands started the second half strongly, with Toby slaloming her way through Fiji’s defence, losing her footing just as she was about to get her shot away.
Elesi Tabunase looked dangerous for the hosts, but after an impressive run, her low cross was well-anticipated by Teiska Rotoava.
The deadlock was finally broken when Aba brought down Kuladina a couple of metres outside the penalty area — a range familiar to Kuladina.
Having scored with a free-kick from further out earlier in the tournament, the number nine dusted herself off and sent her effort crashing in off the underside of the crossbar to give the hosts a valuable lead.
They could have had a second shortly after as Aleeza Taza initiated an attack by slipping in Suliana Vuniyayawa who combined with Tabunase to send the latter clear, although her shot was tame and ultimately gathered comfortably by Fiona Goroani.
The goal had knocked the wind out of Solomon Islands’ sails, and despite their best efforts, they were unable to find a way back in as Fiji held on to take 5th.
Tahiti come from behind to beat Cook Islands
An improved second-half performance helped Tahiti take 7th place at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship following a comeback 2-1 victory over Cook Islands in Suva.
Sensing the opportunity to impose themselves on the game, Cook Islands set the early tone, spending much of the first period camped in Tahiti’s half.
Metuamaru Arere tried her luck from distance, but it was a straightforward gather for Tahitian goalkeeper Ohotonui Bonnet, who was making her first start for the Tahitians.
Cook Islands opened the scoring, continuing the post-group stage trend of early goals, with captain Tauariki Nia poking home to rapturous celebrations after Tahiti failed to deal with the Cook Islands corner.
Nia was unlucky not to net a second, after taking advantage of a mis-kick from the Tahitian goalkeeper, but her shot hit the upright with the goal gaping.
Cook Islands had the ball in the back of the net for a second time just before half-time after Tehanarei Nga finished from close range, but celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee’s raised flag.
Tahiti started the second half with renewed vigour, as Vaiuta Pani came close to equalising three minutes after the restart but was unable to take advantage of a mistake from Vahine Uini.
They weren’t made to wait long as a minute later, Anikua Nekrouf’s powerful shot couldn’t be held by Uini, and Tahiti had a foot back in the game.
Cook Islands regained their composure from the early shock and started to frustrate Tahiti, with Metuamaru Arere catching the eye in the Cook Islands midfield with the timing of her interceptions and subsequent mazy runs, though her side were unable to construct meaningful attempts on Bonnet’s goal.
Tahiti took the lead in the 71st minute, after an unfortunate Cook Islands own goal.
Kumuhei Kautai thought she’d extended the lead five minutes later, but Tilati Ataela’s quick reactions saw her make a goal-line clearance as the Cook Islands kept themselves in the game.
Despite both teams throwing themselves forward on quick breaks, neither were able to make their attempts on goal stick, and Tahiti ran out the victors.
Acknowledgement
We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.
Results
Games played on Thursday September 19, 2024
Play-off for 7th
Cook Islands 1 (Tauariki Nia 7’)
Tahiti 2 (Anikua Nekrouf 49’, own goal 71’)
Play-off for 5th
Fiji 1 (Sisilia Tuvou Kuladina 70′)
Solomon Islands 0
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday September 21, 2024
New Caledonia v Tonga
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji, 12pm (NZT)
Final
New Zealand v Samoa
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji, 3pm (NZT)
This story was first published on September 19, 2024.
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