Extra Bula FC faced a frustrating defeat on Sunday, despite having a commanding presence on the field and controlling possession during the match. Head coach Stephane Auvray and his players are grappling with the ongoing challenge of converting opportunities into goals, leaving them disappointed.
In a post-match press conference, Auvray expressed his deep concerns about the team’s failure to score, labeling it as the main cause of their frustration. “The frustration is just because we are not scoring; otherwise, what could we really be frustrated about?” he remarked.
Although Extra Bula FC effectively confined Vanuatu to minimal scoring chances and showcased solid defensive play, the team struggled in the final third—failing to translate opportunities into goals. Auvray reflected on the emotional toll of watching his players struggle, stating, “The biggest challenge is sitting on the bench and just watching us shooting on the crossbar, the goalkeeper, off target… the ball gets on the line but doesn’t get in. That’s the biggest frustration.”
The strain of the scoring drought led Auvray to adjust his tactical approach during the match, deviating from his typical strategy. “I’m someone who is very patient and believes in the long-term process, and I think I lost this today. There was so much space to win the game that I kind of broke our structure and really played to win, which at the end of the day was not very productive,” he acknowledged.
Players, too, are feeling the weight of the team’s goal-scoring woes, with Adam Supyk echoing sentiments of frustration. “Frustrating probably is the word for me. We’re doing pretty much everything right apart from the final task of putting the ball in the goal,” Supyk shared after the match.
Nevertheless, the squad is maintaining a hopeful outlook. Supyk believes that once they manage to score their first goal, a wave of goals may follow, fostering optimism within the team that they are on the verge of turning their season around. This resilience could be the key to unlocking their potential as they look to overcome the recent hurdles and find their scoring touch in the upcoming matches.