OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 – MATCH DAY 3 PREVIEW

The Fiji Futsal team will be calling on home crowd support in Suva this evening as they face New Caledonia in the final group match of the OFC Futsal Championship to determine who will join Solomon Islands in the Final on Friday.

The hosts go into the crunch match at Vodafone Arena needing only a draw to advance but will have to bounce back from a 3-5 defeat to the Solomon Kurukuru yesterday while the New Caledonians are coming off a confidence boosting 5-4 win over Vanuatu. In tonight’s other match, Melanesian rivalry goes on the line when defending champions Solomon Islands meet the winless Vanuatu.

Fiji coach Imtiaz Khan says his young side is focusing on taking the right attitude into tonight’s decider.

“New Caledonia were one of the teams we beat last year but Futsal is so unpredictable and you can’t say what is going to happen,” said Khan. “All we can do is stay positive.”

Fiji captain Kamal Hassan will lead from the front and hope to continue his goal scoring ways after netting a brace on Match Day 2. Meanwhile New Caledonia will fancy their chances after a dramatic win over Vanuatu yesterday thanks to a Loic Caunes winner two minutes from full time. Coach Eric Michalak says his players have dug deep to stay in contention for the title.

“Against the Solomons (Match Day 1) it was a very, very hard match so it was not so easy for us to move yesterday because we were tired. I was really proud of my boys," said Michalak.

The in-form Solomon Islands have less pressure going into their match against Vanuatu having already qualified for the Final but captain Elliot Ragomo believes there are still aspects of the game his team needs to work on.

"We can improve our set pieces, use our brains more and work on our teamwork and concentration.” 

Speaking after yesterday’s match against Fiji, it was clear what the victory meant for Ragomo and his side. 

“We knew it was our Independence Day so we just wanted to go so hard. For everyone watching and supporting and for the fans we are very happy that we have qualified (for the Final).”

Vanuatu, who are yet to pick up a point, will be playing for pride tonight but can take confidence in the fact that they beat the Solomon Islands 5-1 in last year’s OFC Futsal Championship. The match starts at 6:00pm (local time) with the Fiji-Vanuatu clash to follow at 8:00pm (local time).

For the latest scores and match reports stay tuned to www.oceaniafootball.com 

OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 – Match Day 3 Preview

Match: Solomon Islands vs. Vanuatu

Date: Wednesday 8 July

Venue: Vodafone Arena, Suva

Time: 18h00 (Local time)

Match: Fiji vs. New Caledonia

Date:Wednesday 8 July

Venue: Vodafone Arena, Suva

Time: 20h00 (Local time)

OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2009 – Standings

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Joel Tiller

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