FP5 net nine v Tonga
The Fiji Football Association President’s Five picked up their first win of the tournament, powering past Tonga 9-0.
Ravneel Pal and Kavinesh Lal both scored doubles in the win, with FP5 taking a 6-0 lead into the break.
Tonga’s Sione Aho had the best chance to score for his side but couldn’t generate enough power on his shot.
FFA President’s Five: 9 (Prashant CHAND, Shivnal PRASAD, Kavinesh LAL x2, Nikil CHAND, Ravneel PAL x2, Aman NAIDU, Mohammed AYMAN)
Tonga: 0
HT: 6-0
Mana magic comes through as Kurukuru start with a win
The Mana brothers enjoyed a game to remember as Solomon Islands got their OFC Futsal Cup campaign off to a winning start against New Caledonia, with the siblings scoring six of their side’s goals in a 9-3 win.
Elis Mana scored the opening goal, with Junior Mana scoring a double and Benjamin Mana getting on the scoresheet in the first half. In between them Marlon Sia and Eddie Kasute’e scored, while New Caledonia it back with a double to the tournament’s current leading scorer, Uge Ferdinand Qenegeie, and a further strike to Emmanuel Hmae.
Kurkuru debutant Franster Rukumana capped his first game at national level with a goal to finish the scoring.
Solomon Islands: 9 (Elis MANA, Benjamin MANA, Junior MANA x2, Marlon SIA, Eddie KASUTE’E, Franster RUKUMANA)
New Caledonia: 3 (Uge Ferdinand QENEGEIE x2, Emmanuel HMAEN)
HT: 3-1
Quai the hero as Vanuatu secure famous draw
Vanuatu and New Zealand played out a thrilling draw on Match Day 2 of the OFC Futsal Cup, with Anthony Quai starring with a string of brilliant saves as New Zealand rallied late to try and score a winner.
It took just minutes for New Zealand to score a classy opener through Rahan Ali, and through the remainder of the first half it was the Futsal Whites who dominated possession, with Vanuatu content to sit deep and soak up the pressure.
The second half was a different story though, with Vanuatu playing a more daring style which saw them pushing forward and enjoying a more even share of possession. Rhydley Napau scored the breakthrough goal for Vanuatu midway through the first half, outmuscling his marker and pinging the ball into the back of the net from close range.
New Zealand: 1 (Rahan ALI)
Vanuatu: 1 (Rhydley NAPAU)
Half time: 1-0
A Surjason and Shahil show in Fiji’s first win v Samoa
Tournament hosts Fiji picked up a win in their second Group B match against Samoa, with both Surjason Sami and Shahil Dave scoring hat-tricks in their side’s first win of the tournament.
Sami and Dave scored early, followed by a goal from Rajneel Singh in the first six minutes, which startled Samoa early in their first appearance of the competition.
Dave then struck a goal in the opening minute of the second half, while Sami slammed his third inside the final five minutes of the match.
Despite the result, the event marked Samoa’s return to an OFC futsal competition since 2004, a positive for futsal development in the region.
Fiji: 7 (Surjason SAMI x3, Shahil DAVE x3, Rajneel SINGH).
Samoa: 0
Half time: 5-0
