Earlier this afternoon, Tahiti qualified for the semi-finals after a thrilling 2-2 draw with traditional rivals New Caledonia, while Solomon Islands earned first place in Group B with a 16-0 win against Tuvalu. Fiji kept alive their hopes of progressing with a 22-3 victory over Kiribati but the result did not prove significant in the end as New Zealand confirmed their passage with the exciting Vanuatu win.
New Zealand will now go on to face Tahiti in the first semi-final tomorrow evening before Solomon Islands and Vanuatu meet each other to find the other finalist.
“I think Vanuatu are one of the most improved sides in the tournament and they were outstanding tonight,” New Zealand coach Matt Chandler says. “It was pleasing that we reacted well when they got some momentum because I don’t think we did that against Fiji in the first game. But it was about character today rather than technique or tactics and I think we showed a lot of it. Tahiti are a totally different prospect to Vanuatu but they are a good side and I have a lot of respect for them.”
A point would have been enough for the Futsal Whites to go through but they clearly had their eye on first place and were ahead by the sixth minute thanks to a fine solo effort from Jakub Sinkora. It was 2-0 a minute later when Nathan Robertson finished off a breakaway and Vanuatu’s hopes of getting back into the game weren’t helped when Jack Vira Ala was dismissed in the 11th minute.
But New Zealand failed to go further ahead while their opponents were a man down and it was Vanuatu who scored next, Don Mansale smashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Elias Billeh just before halftime. Mansale then scored again shortly after their interval to bring his side level before Robertson and Mansale traded blows to make it 3-3 five minutes into the second spell.
Not long after, the Futsal Whites put themselves on course to top the group with goals to Dylan Manickum and Micky Malivuk but again Vanuatu hit back when Fredy Vava closed the gap to 5-4 with just under ten minutes remaining. Any hopes Jean-Yves Galine’s side had of drawing level suffered a blow that proved fatal with five minutes to go though as Greg O’Connor restored New Zealand’s two-goal advantage.
“We are disappointed to lose but I thought both teams played well and it must have been an exciting game to watch,” coach Galine says. “We will now play the Solomon Islands in the semi-finals and we must find a way to beat them because our goal has always been to win the tournament. The Solomons are a very good team and have a lot of skilful players but I think our boys can do it.”
The Solomons had already qualified for the semi-finals but confirmed they would finish top with an impressive 16-0 dismantling of Tuvalu. Inspirational captain Elliot Ragomo led the way with a remarkable seven goals while James Egeta, Samuel Osifelo and Coleman Makau all notched braces, and Micah Lea’alafa, Moffat Sikwa’ae and Jack Wetney also got on the scoresheet.
Tahiti needed only a draw to join the Kurukuru in going through from Group B and got exactly that against francophone rivals New Caledonia. Chocolat Maperi and Capo Turihono found the net for Heitapu Hunter’s side while New Caledonia responded through Caryl Thepinier and Julien Drudri in a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire.
With the scores locked at 2-2 and only two minutes left on the clock, Tahiti almost threw their semi-final spot away when Vateae Barff was dismissed. But the four remaining men defended as if their lives depended on it in the dying moments and they were able to cling onto the vital point.
“We are very pleased with the result but not so much with the game because I don’t think we played very well,” Hunter says. “I think the players didn’t perform like they usually do because of the pressure of this match. When we had the man sent off I really thought we would lose. To defend for two minutes with only three outfield players is very difficult.”
Fiji still had faint hopes of progressing going into their final group match against Kiribati and were on track for the massive victory needed when they led 17-2 at halftime. But the scoring slowed in the second spell and they could only manage five more goals, leaving Intiaz Khan and his players to sweat on the result of the New Zealand-Vanuatu clash.
Sandeep Nair joined Solomon skipper Ragomo in scoring seven times while Kamal Hassan hit five, Hussein Sahib struck four and Shivam Nathan grabbed a double. Uraia Loki, Ratu Dugucagi, Aisea Codro and Ajesh Narayan were also on target for Fiji but Kiribati did manage to respond with a Bita Keakea hat-trick.
The tournament is not over for Kiribati and the other sides who have missed out on the semi-finals as 7th/8th and 5th/6th play-offs are pencilled in for tomorrow.
New Caledonia – Tahiti Match Summary click here
Tuvalu – Solomon Islands Match Summary click here
Fiji – Kiribati Match Summary click here
New Zealand – Vanuatu Match Summary click here
Competition Summary click here
Upcoming matches
Tuvalu vs Kiribati
7th/8th play-off
Thursday 19 May, 1pm local time
Vodafone Arena, Suva
New Caledonia vs Fiji
5th/6th play-off
Thursday 19 May, 3pm local time
Vodafone Arena, Suva
New Zealand vs Tahiti
Semi-final
Thursday 19 May, 5pm local time
Vodafone Arena, Suva
Solomon Islands vs Vanuatu
Semi-final
Thursday 19 May, 7.30pm local time
Vodafone Arena, Suva