FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Vanuatu displays great performance in friendly

In their second friendly match heading for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the Vanuatu had a very good performance against the traditional side of Ifira Black Bird. The match was played this Tuesday at Port Vila Stadium. The Etienne Mermer-coached side had no problems to thrash the opponents by a compreehensive margin of 7 goals to nil.

The starting line-up for Vanuatu was as follows: Massing Kalotang; Tasso Jeffrey, Jesse Kalopong, Tom Saksak and Alphonse Lency; Claude Aru, Jacky Ruben and Edwin Bai; Ronaldo Wilkins, Kensi Tangis and Andre Batick. The Ifira Black Bird side was also a decent squad that counted on the former U20 World Cup member Jonathan Spokeyjack and PVFA Premier League standout Jayson Tari.

The team captain Kensi Tangis provided the assist for Galaxy’s FC star-striker Andre Batick to score the first goal of the match. Tangis himself scored the second for the national team and still inside the 10-minute mark former Malampa Revivors’ star Edwin Bai scored the third for his side.

The first half ended with three-goal advantage for the national team, but in the early stages of the second half Tangis secured his brace adding for Vanuatu. The introduction of the young talented Jordy Tasip proved effective by Mermer – the speedster was fouled out into the penalty box, the striker himself took the penalty and scored the fifth for Vanuatu.

Edwin Bai scored his second in the game and the sixth for his team and in the 88th minute of the match iCount Yatel star Barry Mansale made impact coming from the bench as he scored the seventh for the team and the last of the day for the Ni-Vanuatuans.

Another friendly against a local team will played this month: Vanuatu will play once again the local powerhose Galaxy FC on 24th Feb at Port Vila Stadium. The teams also met previously, in a match that ended up with a narrow win for the national team side.

Still three overseas-based players will join Etienne Mermer squad for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers that will be held in Qatar this March – you can see the full squad by clicking here.