The Solomon Islands continued to maintain their strong form in the Futsal tournament, entering the third day with two prior victories as they faced off against a struggling Vanuatu team yet to secure a win. The ‘Kurukuru’ team, spearheaded by the talented trio Alvin Hou, Elis Mana, and Calvin Do’oro, launched a series of aggressive attacks right from the start.
Despite Vanuatu’s struggle to keep up with the fast pace, their defense held firm in the early phases of the game, with goalkeeper Charlie Boe delivering an impressive performance between the posts. Vanuatu’s tactical prowess was evident as they rose to the challenge, with their captain Michel Coulon, along with Kemly Lehi and Kevin Donald, creating potential scoring opportunities whenever in control of the ball.
Initially, it seemed the first half would conclude without any goals until Solomon Island’s Jayroll Patty managed to navigate through Vanuatu’s defense, securing a crucial goal that gave his team a 1-0 lead going into halftime. However, Vanuatu’s Paul Takaro soon reignited his team’s competitive spirit with a surprising goal from outside the arc, leveling the score and boosting his team’s morale.
Solomon Islands’ players Do’oro and Hou attempted to regain the lead with several long-range efforts, but Boe continually thwarted their chances, which ultimately resulted in the match concluding in a 1-1 draw after numerous missed opportunities from both sides.
Switching to Game 2, host nation Fiji emerged victorious over Tuvalu, marking their second win of the tournament. Despite Tuvalu’s spirited effort, led by captain Reme Timuani and assisted by Paolo Vailine, Fiji stayed dominant. Fiji took the lead through a well-taken free kick by Bruce Hughes, a goal stemming from a Tuvalu defensive error.
As the game progressed, Fiji’s physical approach and mounting pressure further unsettled Tuvalu, with Filipe Baravilala and Rajneel Singh actively pursuing goals. This intensity culminated in a 3-0 halftime lead for Fiji, further extended in the second half by a goal from Ramzan Khan, making the score 4-1 at full time following Tuvalu’s solitary consolation goal from Aloesi Nukualofa.
Overall, the third day of the tournament highlighted Solomon Islands’ robust gameplay and tenacity, while Fiji’s encounter demonstrated their continued advancement and emergent team synergy, keeping the tournament thrilling for competitors and spectators alike.