The Solomon Islands pushed Thailand all the way in an eventual 9-4 loss on Monday morning New Zealand Time, finding their attacking groove and finishing their FIFA Futsal World Cup campaign on a high in Lithuania.

A pair of thumping set pieces from captain Elliot Ragomo, in between an Elis Mana back-post goal and Marlon Sia strike into the top right corner, helped the Kurukuru push Thailand all the way at the Kaunas Arena.

Goals inside the opening 10 minutes to Nawin Rattanawongswas and Suphawut Thueanklang gave Thailand an early advantage, but when Mana got on the end of a driven ball from Coleman Makau on 15 minutes the Solomon Islands found themselves right back in the contest.

Kritsada Wongkaeo scored before the half-time break to give his side a 3-1 advantage.

A Jetsada Chudech goal early in the second half took Thailand to four, but Ragomo’s penalty three minutes later, after he was fouled by the Thailand keeper when through on goal, pulled the gap back to two. 

Requiring a win to advance beyond the group stage, Thailand employed the fifth man tactic with success in the latter stages of the match and the Kurkuru struggled to stop their opponent’s attacking flow with the numerical advantage. 

A powerful driven free kick from Ragomo pierced through the defensive wall to give his side their third goal, while Sia netted inside the final minute to cap off a strong performance from the Oceania representatives.

Solomon Islands: 4 (15’ Elis MANA, 27’ Elliot RAGOMO, 38’ Elliot RAGOMO, 40’ Marlon SIA)

Thailand: 9 (4’ Nawin RATTANAWONGSWAS, 6’ Suphawut THUEANKLANG, 17’ Kritsada WONGKAEO, 24’ Jetsada CHUDECH, 32’ Suphawut THUEANKLANG, 34’ Jetsada CHUDECH, 37’ Jirawat SORNWICHIAN, 39’ Peerapat KAEWWILAI, 39’ Suphawut THUEANKLANG)

Halftime: 1-3