Solomon Islands and Fiji advance to semi-finals in OFC U-19 Men’s Championship

The final matchday of Group A at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Apia saw the Solomon Islands and Fiji secure their places in the semi-finals with commanding performances. Solomon Islands topped the group with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tahiti, while Fiji overcame an early setback to trounce Vanuatu 6-1.

In a match where both teams knew the stakes, the Solomon Islands faced Tahiti with a clear objective: avoid defeat to advance. The Solomon Islands’ attacking prowess was evident early on, with Jimson Abana twice finding himself in scoring positions, though he couldn’t convert. The Solomon Islands appeared to take the lead in the 22nd minute, but Abana’s effort was ruled out for handball.

Tahiti responded towards the end of the first half, with Iliwai Resopawiro showcasing his dribbling skills, only to see his shot narrowly miss the target. Franck Papaura’s stunning 60-meter run also ended in disappointment as his chip shot was easily saved by Gideon Abidan.

The breakthrough came shortly after the second half began. Hitimoana Teuira’s error in Tahiti’s penalty area allowed Abana to dispossess him and set up James Laena, who smashed the ball past Keahinui Heinis to give the Solomon Islands the lead. Abana continued to threaten but was unable to add to the tally as Tahiti’s defense held firm. With this victory, the Solomon Islands finished the group stage with a perfect record, not conceding a single goal, and now await their semi-final opponent.

In the other Group A match, Fiji displayed resilience and attacking flair to secure their place in the semi-finals with a 6-1 victory over Vanuatu. Vanuatu started brightly, taking the lead in the fourth minute when Glen Maki finished off a move initiated by Ronn Tasarur. However, Fiji’s response was swift. Co-captain Penisoni Tirau equalized with a header from an Ibraheem Afazal free-kick.

Fiji then took control of the match. Eparama Moraica’s strong run and assist allowed Afazal to score into an empty net, giving Fiji the lead. Afazal continued his impressive performance with a long-range strike to make it 3-1. Sterling Vasconcellos added a fourth with a header from an Afazal corner.

Vanuatu, seeking a way back into the match, left gaps in their defense that Fiji exploited. Another set-piece saw Vasconcellos score his second goal with a close-range header. William Khan completed the rout with a header from a corner in the final moments, marking his first goal for Fiji.

Fiji’s dominant performance saw them finish the group stage with six points, securing their spot in the semi-finals and relegating Vanuatu to the play-off for seventh place after three defeats. Vanuatu showed determination but ultimately couldn’t match Fiji’s firepower.

As the tournament progresses, both the Solomon Islands and Fiji will look to build on their impressive group stage performances. The Solomon Islands’ defensive solidity and Fiji’s attacking prowess make them formidable contenders in the knockout stages. The anticipation now shifts to Group B’s results to determine their semi-final matchups.