The Solomon Islands won 1-0 against Vanuatu at the Apia OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2024.
Despite the disruptions, the Solomon Islands did not falter, scoring in the opening 20 minutes.
Captain Paul Francis’s through ball breached the Vanuatu defence, and James Laena powered his shot past goalkeeper Joseph Nakou. Laena was a constant threat down Vanuatu’s left-hand side, but the defense cleared the danger in time.
Vanuatu’s frustrations were evident in the first half, with Laena’s shot over the crossbar leaving the score at 1-0 at half-time. The second half was impacted by multiple injuries and players suffering from cramps under the hot conditions in Apia.
Vanuatu grew into the contest towards the end of the second period but struggled to find the target.
The Solomon Islands pushed to extend their lead, but Manuel Lorren was given a second yellow card, leaving Vanuatu with 10 men for the remainder of added time.
The victory gives the Solomon Islands the perfect start to their campaign, while Vanuatu will look to bounce back on match day two when they face Tahiti.
