Tahiti have given their home fans plenty to cheer about and have kept their semi-final hopes alive at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship with a 2-0 victory over Vanuatu at Stade Paea.
A first-half brace from inspirational captain Haranui Le Gayic proved decisive. Vanuatu created opportunities but were let down by wasteful finishing, while Tahiti themselves could have added to the scoreline.
Vanuatu coach Joel Rarua made just one change to the team that narrowly lost to New Caledonia, while Tahiti’s Raimana Bu-Luc made three changes following their heavy defeat to New Zealand.
The match began at a high tempo, with both sides fashioning early chances. The best fell to Tahiti’s Catherine Teikihaa, whose left-footed strike was well saved by Vanuatu goalkeeper Jineth Vanva. Teikihaa quickly made amends in the 11th minute, delivering a pinpoint cross for Le Gayic to head home the opener.
Vanuatu captain Angeline Poida had a golden chance to equalise in the 18th minute when she rounded Tahiti goalkeeper Ohotonui Bonnet, only to drag her shot narrowly wide.
Le Gayic doubled Tahiti’s lead in the 25th minute with a superb free-kick from the edge of the penalty area after Vanva was penalised for handling outside her box.
Spurred on by a vocal home crowd, Tahiti nearly made it 3-0 before the break when Hereana Brothers unleashed a powerful strike that flew just wide.
Rarua responded at halftime with substitutions, bringing on Clodia Daniel and Esther Siaban. Vanuatu began the second half brightly and applied pressure but again failed to take their chances. The best came in the 63rd minute when Poida was gifted possession inside the box by a Tahitian defender, only to fire wide.
The result leaves Tahiti needing to beat New Caledonia in their final Group B match on Sunday (Tahiti time) to advance to the semi-finals alongside New Zealand. For Vanuatu, back-to-back defeats mean their campaign will end against the Kiwis on Sunday. (Tahiti time)
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek.
HT: 0 – 2
VANUATU 0
TAHITI 2 (Haranui Le Gayic 11’, 25’)