The hopes of a nation were dashed overnight as the Solomon Islands were beaten 7-6 in a thrilling showdown with El Salvador which sent the Bilikiki crashing out of the Beach Soccer extravaganza in Papeete.
“We believed that we could beat El Salvador, we hoped to win but unfortunately we lost. We have to get behind Tahiti now because it’s our team, it is OFC,” Hale said.
Hale believes the loss of defender Samson Takayama to injury and Patrick Marie’s suspension were contributing factors to the side’s loss – but conceded that is all part of the game.
Team manager Reubbyn Oimae describes the overall performance of the team as a big improvement on their previous World Cup appearances.
“The closer score lines show that there has been big improvement for the team,” Oimae says.
He believes with a better support system and similar international preparation to other World Cup teams, the Bilikiki would be performing at another level completely.
“We just trained at DC Park while every other team is training on an international standard pitch, so there is a big difference in terms of preparations.”
He says the campaign may be over for this tournament but there is plenty to build towards in the future.
“There is the next OFC qualifying round and the Inter Continental Cup in United Arab Emirates next year.”
Oimae says after the side leave Tahiti on Wednesday (local) and should arrive back in Honiara on Sunday where they will take a three week break before resuming training in preparation of the 2014 OFC Beach Soccer Championship.
It was a winner takes all scenario in unusually wet and cool conditions at To’ata Stadium in Papeete the Bilikiki couldn’t quite edge the central Americans to set up an all-Oceania quarter final against Tahiti.
The end-to-end contest was dominated by the goal-scoring heroics of El Salvador captain Agustin Ruiz who found the net five times, and Solomon Islands’ Nicholas Muri who bagged a treble.
Ruiz had his side 2-1 in front by the end of the first period and his remarkable shooting prowess soon had them leading 4-2 only for Muri to almost single-handedly draw his side level by the next break.
El Salvador again moved clear in the final period creating a gap that proved too wide for the Bilikiki to close as they narrowly fell short of achieving a new milestone.
The result lifted El Salvador, who finished fourth at Ravenna 2011, into a quarter final meeting with Spain who topped Group A ahead of Oceania side Tahiti.
It was the fifth consecutive first round exit for the Bilikiki but their closest shave with quarter-final qualification since their debut at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2006.
For more on Solomon Islands football go to www.siff.com.sb