Kurukuru receive hero’s welcome

The Kurukuru touched down at Honiara’s Henderson Airport to the cheers of fans, more than 200 of which had turned out to greet the team. Thousands more lined the streets outside and as the players left the terminal they were presented with flowers, traditional necklaces and handshakes from the fanatical Kurukuru supporters.Many ran up to…

Joseph S. Blatter made these announcements following meetings with Japan’s prime minister, Naoto Kan, the country’s minister for sports, education, culture, science and technology, Yoshiaki Takaki, and the president of the Japanese Football Association (JFA), Junji Ogura. Expressing “the sympathy of the football family for all the victims of the tsunami and the people of…

Against all expectations, the Solomon Islands were 4-1 down shortly after the halftime interval but produced some typical Kurukuru flair in the second spell to dash Tahiti’s hopes and book themselves a ticket to Thailand. There was also plenty of drama in the day’s other game, New Zealand’s Futsal Whites earning bronze after winning a…

New Zealand – Vanuatu Match Summary click hereGoalkeeper David Plowright, who has acted as understudy to Elias Billeh for the majority of the tournament, stepped from the shadows to become the hero for New Zealand as he scored the side’s last penalty himself and then pulled off a save from opposing goalkeeper Chickau Mansale’s spot…

Tahiti – Solomon Islands Match Summary click hereThe Solomon Islands had won the last three Oceania championships in a row and were heavy favourites going into this winner-takes-all clash, despite only managing to beat Tahiti 1-0 when the sides met during the group stages.But the Tahitians, who have been one of the tournament’s most well-organised…

Tahiti needed a penalty shoot-out to finally overcome New Zealand after a thrilling 3-3 extra-time draw while the Kurukuru had no such trouble in their comprehensive 13-1 victory over Vanuatu.There was also an historic moment earlier in the day when newcomers Kiribati earned their first ever win at this competition with a 3-2 success over…

Solomon Islands – Vanuatu Match Summary click hereEarlier today, Tahiti earned their place in tomorrow’s final with a penalty shoot-out win over New Zealand after the scores were locked at 3-3 following extra-time.The 7th/8th play-off this afternoon saw Kiribati earn their first ever victory with a 3-2 success over Tuvalu while Fiji pipped New Caledonia…

New Zealand – Tahiti Match Summary click hereExtra time was required to separate the sides after the scores were locked at 2-2 and then 3-3 following the added period.Tahiti goalkeeper Atanui Tetihia then became the toast of his team mates with two saves, from Dylan Manickum and Daniel Koprivcic, as the Tahitians won the shoot-out…

Earlier this afternoon, Tahiti qualified for the semi-finals after a thrilling 2-2 draw with traditional rivals New Caledonia, while Solomon Islands earned first place in Group B with a 16-0 win against Tuvalu. Fiji kept alive their hopes of progressing with a 22-3 victory over Kiribati but the result did not prove significant in the…