The Solomon Islands U-19 side held 2017 S-League champions and 2018 OFC Champions League quarter-finalists Solomon Warriors to a 1-1 draw yesterday in a thoroughly entertaining friendly match at the SIFF Academy in Honiara.
Simon Wolfgang put the national youth side in front halfway through the first half, only for senior international Denis Ifunaoa to draw level before the break.
It was a good test for the U-19 as Warriors coach Moses Toata fielded a full strength squad.
The approach from Toata meant his counterpart Batram Suri had to manage his side’s approach to the match with the latter opting to focus on defending and counter attacking when space presented itself.
Suri said he was pleased with his team’s defensive discipline, before adding that a draw against the reigning TSL champions is a positive step towards how he wants his team to play.
Both sides were using the match as preparation towards their respective upcoming competitions.
The Solomon Islands U-19 squad are only three weeks away from the OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti next month while Solomon Warriors are set to get their Telekom S-League title defence underway when the new season starts on 21st of this month.