The Solomon Islands Kurukuru asserted their dominance once again at Vodafone Arena, securing a 5-2 victory against the host nation, Fiji, and preserving their unbeaten streak. The Kurukuru’s commanding performance was spearheaded by standout players Owen Bunabo and Alvin Hou, who orchestrated relentless attacks from the outset. Despite commendable efforts by Fiji’s captain, Kitione Baleloa, who executed several key saves in the early exchanges, the Kurukuru’s offensive onslaught eventually broke through.
Jayroll Patty opened the scoring for the Solomon Islands, followed by two goals from Calvin Do’oro—one from a powerful solo effort and another via a well-executed set piece. This left the Kurukuru in a strong position at halftime, demonstrating their tactical prowess and depth.
Fiji, showing admirable resilience, sought to counter in the second half by creating scoring opportunities and aiming to disrupt the Kurukuru’s flow. However, the Solomon Islands maintained their focus and composure. Owen Bunabo seized a rebound to add a fourth goal, soon followed by Alvin Hou capitalizing on a defensive misstep from Fiji to score the fifth.
In the closing minutes, Fiji managed to find the back of the net twice with goals from Nikil Chand and Filipe Baravilala, offering a brief glimmer of hope and something for their fans to celebrate. Nevertheless, the Kurukuru’s control over the game’s tempo ensured their victory.
Looking ahead, the Solomon Islands aim to carry this momentum into their upcoming match with Vanuatu, while Fiji will seek to regroup and prepare for their next encounter against Tuvalu. This match further solidified the Solomon Islands’ prominent position in regional futsal, highlighting their strategic skill and attacking depth. Their consistent performance continues to establish them as formidable contenders in the sport.