Fiji U-20 allows comeback and loses to Guatemala in U-20 World Cup warm up tournament

This Sunday, Feb 19th, Fiji’s U-20 football team suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Guatemala’s U-20 side in Jakarta, Indonesia. This was the second match for Fiji in the invitational tournament, following their previous loss to the host nation, Indonesia. Despite the defeat, Fiji displayed a better performance, especially in the first half, where they managed to take the lead with a goal from Gulam Razool, a Ba player, assisted by Peniasi Rotidara. You can watch the goals of the match by clicking here.

Fiji’s U-20 team, coached by Rodolfo Zapata, is currently preparing for the U-20 World Cup, which will also be held in Indonesia. The invitational tournament is a crucial opportunity for the Fijians to hone their skills and test themselves against tough opposition before the World Cup.

Fiji’s early lead in the match against Guatemala was a promising sign, but they seemed to tire quickly in the second half, which affected their performance on the field. They eventually conceded three goals, allowing Guatemala to take control of the game and secure a comfortable victory. Fiji’s defense was breached for the first time in the 69th minute of the game, which proved to be the turning point of the match.

Despite the defeat, Fiji’s U-20 team still has one more game to play in the invitational tournament, against New Zealand’s U-20 side later in the week. They will need to regroup quickly and work on their fitness levels to avoid a similar outcome against the Kiwis. The U-20 World Cup is fast approaching, and Fiji will need to be in top form if they hope to compete against the best youth football teams from around the world.