Hosts New Caledonia impressed in their opening match of the competition, and their first futsal international on home soil, when they held Tahiti to an exhilarating 4-4 draw on Wednesday evening.
They will open day three of the tournament with what is expected to be an equally exciting match against Pacific neighbours Vanuatu. Unfortunately the locals will be without their coach William Brett after he was expulsed from the match against Tahiti as a result of unacceptable behaviour directed at the match official.
With Brett in the stands the role of holding the side together falls to his assistant Steeve Laigle who has will be looking to build on their outstanding first performance.
“We want to win. The boys have now seen that they can win, they could rival Tahiti and the objective today is to beat Vanuatu,” he says.
“We were good in transition between defence and attack and the objective today is to continue along those lines against Vanuatu.”
After going down 5-1 to a disciplined New Zealand outfit, Vanuatu will look to return to a game plan that helped them overcome Tahiti on day one as they try to chase down the leaders.
Coach Louis Dominique is certain he knows what his side needs to work on – with the statistics revealing a large number of shots off target from his players.
“I think with the boys we will work on the finishing, the shooting. We have a lot of work to do on that area of the offence. We’ll adapt the game up front, try and get closer,” he explains.
“We know that New Caledonia is the host and they’ll have their home crowd but we will try and perform a good game as we definitely need to win this game to finish in the best possible position in this competition.”
In the later match Tahiti will take on a well-rested Malaysia as they look to get secure their first win of the competition. When the two sides met in the semi-finals in 2013, it took a penalty shootout to separate them. This time around coach Heitapu Hunter is confident his side can triumph.
“We would really like to win this match. To win a match would be a pleasure and we will do everything we can to achieve that objective.”
With the benefit of a day’s rest yesterday, Malaysia have had a chance to review their opening match and work out the kinks in their game after being downed by New Zealand in their opener 4-1.
“I hope my players will work harder and not make the same mistakes as on day one,” says coach Maizal Mahadi.
“My players were frustrated because they couldn’t score goals against New Zealand. When they’re frustrated they make a lot of mistakes and New Zealand took that and capitalised. I think if we work on that, and can finish the opportunities we have it will be a better match for us.”
Both sides have been forced to make changes to their squads, with Tahiti’s young goalkeeper Hauarii Hioe injured during the match against New Caledonia and unable to continue in the tournament. He has been replaced by Tehaumanarii Bennett, one of the youngest players in the wider Tahiti squad.
Malaysia have also been forced into making a goalkeeper change with Rahimi Shaktar falling ill, he has been replaced by Faris Ahmad.
Extra Information:
OFC Futsal Championship Invitational – MATCH DAY 3 PREVIEW
This is the official preview of Match Day 3. Please note squads are subject to change.
New Caledonia v Vanuatu
18h local time,Thursday 14 August
Arène du Sud
Paita, New Calédonia
NCLvVAN
Match officials:
Referee: Philip MANA [SOL]
Second Referee: Chris SINCLAIR [NZL]
Third Referee: Kamendra NAIDU [FIJ]
Timekeeper: Rex KAMUSU [SOL]
New Caledonia
1. Ronan EUZEN (GK), 2. Eric SAIHULIWA, 3. Jess POUARAIROUA, 4. Ivan POUROURORO, 5. Loic CAUNES, 6. Mainon KAOUWI, 7. Romain GUITTON, 9. Ivannoe BAMY, 8. Anderson PAULIN, 10. Ludovic BOIT, 11. Malick PAULET, 20. Ronald GAYON (GK)
Assistant Coach: Steeve LAIGLE [NCL]
Vanuatu: 1. Glendon MASAI (GK), 2. Terry MALAPA, 3. Ricky TUIGALOA, 4. Dudley DOMINIQUE, 5. Jacky JOHN, 6. Joseph HANGHANGKON, 7. Ben HUNGAI, 8. Pakoa JEREMY, 9. Donald AVOCK, 10. Albert THO, 11. George MAHIT, 12. Ivano PHILIP (GK)
Coach: Louis DOMINIQUE [VAN]
Tahiti v Malaysia
20h local time, Thursday 14 August
Arène du Sud
Paita, New Calédonia
TAHvMAS
Match officials:
Referee: Amitesh BEHARI [FIJ]
Second Referee: Jainut DEAN [FIJ]
Third Referee: Love Lui MELENARAVE [VAN]
Timekeeper: Daniel KAUSUO [NCL]
Tahiti: 2. Steeven TINO, 3. Steeve WONG, 4. Junior CAO, 5. Jacob TUTAVAE, 6. Alexis TOOFA, 7. Gabriel KAVERA, 8. Teivarii KAIHA, 9. Anderson TINO, 10. Teaonui TEHAU, 12. Smith TINO, 13. Tehaumanarii BENNETT (GK), 17. Gerard TETAUIRA (GK)
Injured: 1. Hauarii HIOE (GK), replaced by 13. Tehaumanarii BENNETT (GK)
Coach: Heitapu HUNTER [TAH]
Malaysia: 1. Firdaus RAZALI (GK) (c), 4. Shamsul ZAMRI, 5. Fitri YATIM, 6. Fariq MOHAMMAD, 9. Qaiser KADIR, 10. Shahmi SANI, 15. Aula AHMAD, 7. Ridzwan BAKRI, 13. Nizam ALI, 14. Rahimi SHATAR (GK), 16. Firdaus AMBIAH, 20. Faris AHMAD (GK)
Injured: 14. Rahimi SHATAR (GK); replaced by: Faris AHMED (GK)
Coach: Maizal MAHADI [MAS]