Fiji won 6-1 against Vanuatu to qualify for the semi-finals of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Apia.
Vanuatu scored first after four minutes, with Ronn Tasarur driving into the box and Glen Maki scoring. Fiji responded with a free kick from Ibraheem Afazal, who scored into the back of the net.
The 2022 finalists scored again 12 minutes later, with Eparama Moraica’s strong run into the box and Afazal’s goal. Tirau’s layoff for Moraica was cleared off the line by Jean Patriano Natou. A
fazal’s third goal came shortly after, with a strike from distance that beat Joseph Nakou in goal.
Fiji’s corner kick found Sterling Vasconcellos at the back post, who looped his header across the goal into the far corner. Fiji used their tall timber perfectly at set-piece time, with Vasconcellos scoring an easy close-range header.
William Khan sealed the result for Fiji, scoring his first goal for his country. Fiji now has six points and is at the top of Group A.
The Tahiti Solomon Islands match will determine their qualification for the play-off for seventh place.
Vanuatu: 1 (Glen MAKI 4’)
Fiji: 6 (Penisoni TIRAU 13’, Ibraheem AFAZAL 25’, 29’, Sterling VASCONCELLOS 35’, 61′; William KHAN 90+5′)
HT 1-4
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