It was a hard-fought battle for both sides with just one goal separating them in the end as the hosts won 7-6 to keep their hopes of attending their first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup alive.
Newcomers to the international beach soccer stage, New Caledonia opened their account with a stunning strike from Olivier Dokunengo within the first two minutes. His younger brother Kouriane Dokunengo had no intention of being left behind, netting one of his own ten minutes in.
However, ever the fighters, Vanuatu came back strong in the second period to take the lead for the first time in the match. Captain Antonio Malapa led the charge with a goal three minutes after the break before Don Mansale got on the board to bring the two teams in line. A third goal came seconds later from Daniel Michel to take Vanuatu ahead.
The third period saw an abundance of goals scored by both teams as they fought hard for their first win of the tournament and a chance of challenging Solomon Islands for passage to Tahiti 2013.
New Caledonia captain Ramon Djamali got proceedings underway in the first minute when he connected with a cross from Olivier Dokunengo sending the ball flying into the back of the net. A minute later Kouriane Dokunengo blasted a shot across the face of the goal to earn his brace and the lead for his team. Vanuatu then equalised in the tenth minute when Malapa got his second from a penalty. Jean-Pierre Ayawa didn’t let the score remain locked for long as he fired at the Vanuatu goal direct from kick-off to hand his side the advantage. Djamali struck twice in quick succession to give the hosts a three goal cushion. Vanuatu clawed their way back through double strikes from Robert Tom but in the end there wasn’t enough time to get an equaliser to take the game into extra time.
A disappointed Wilson August was once again pleased with his side’s performance, especially against the hosts who had huge crowd support behind them.
“We just played yesterday and we haven’t got time to recover and we play again so that’s why we lost our game, that’s the only thing I can say,” Wilson says.
“I’m happy with the goals we scored today. We don’t have a league in Vanuatu, so we use a lot of outdoor players, the same as New Caledonia. They use 11-a-side players too.”
New Caledonia coach Felix Tagawa was elated to have led New Caledonia to their first international beach soccer victory in front of a home crowd.
“I have to say it is a victory for the boys, for the players who have given their all right up until today. It’s not me, all I’m doing is accompanying. It’s them, it’s their victory,” he says.
“We found Vanuatu to be very quick. They, like us, absolutely had to win today or the tournament would be over. We have been lucky but we have to thank the participating teams, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, because thanks to them we can have a level of international beach soccer as it’s them who began it all.”
He says having the support of their fellow countrymen was certain to have had a positive effect on his charges.
“The support of the public today has been enormous. Without the crowd it wouldn’t be beach soccer. We have to thank them, it’s been festive and joyous, they were right behind us today which was excellent.”
New Caledonia are now set to face-off against the Solomon Islands in the final match of the OFC Beach Soccer Championship tomorrow, Monday 2 September, at the University of New Caledonia in Noumea at 12pm.
The winner of this encounter will be crowned Oceania champions and will earn tickets to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be hosted in Tahiti later this month.

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