Courtesy: OFC Web Site


Match Day 5 Preview

The fifth day of action in the OFC Futsal Championship takes place today at Vodafone Arena in Suva.

New Zealand take on Fiji in the first match at 4:30pm local time before Tahiti face off with Solomon Islands at 6:30pm and New Caledonia clash with Tuvalu at 8:30pm.

All matches will be streamed LIVE online via Oceaniafootball.com

Here's a look at how the teams are looking ahead of the fifth round of matches:

New Zealand vs Fiji
This is one of the key matches of the championship, particularly for New Zealand's Futsal Whites. Solomon Islands and Fiji, the pre-tournament favourites to occupy the top two places, have now begun to pull away from the pack and the Kiwis need to win this one to stay in contention. If New Zealand lose, it's hard to see Fiji slipping up elsewhere and letting coach Matthew Chandler's side back into the title running. The Futsal Whites will approach this match with plenty of confidence after posting two wins on the trot, 3-2 over Vanuatu and 2-1 against Tahiti respectively. They also have several players in good form - captain Marvin Eakins has hardly put a foot wrong, the tricky Brazilian-born Lucas da Silva has scored in each of the last two matches, and playmaker Miro Major is becoming more influential with every game. New Zealand also have striker Miroslav Malivuk, hugely impressive in the first game against the Solomons, back from injury and he will be keen to get back on the goal trail. This will be the toughest examination of their qualities since that 8-4 defeat to the Kurukuru though - Fiji are hitting their stride after a slow start and are probably the only side with a genuine chance of challenging the Solomons for the title.

Tahiti vs Solomon Islands
The French Polynesians will have their work cut out for them to get anything from this game. Their form so far has been solid enough - they have won two of their four games - but the Solomons are the benchmark for futsal in this part of the world and have used this tournament to emphasise the gulf in class that exists between them and everyone else. Coach Dickson Kadau's team have scored 25 goals in their three matches and no other team has come close to matching their skill and speed. Even with the suspended Elliot Ragomo out of action yesterday, they still managed to put eight past Vanuatu - one of the sides expected to push for a top-three finish - and have bundles of talent all over the court. Micah Lea'alafa scored a hat-trick last night to take his tally to nine and lead the golden boot race, while Jack Wetney is also showing why he picked up the player of the tournament award in 2009. Tahiti are a well-organised side and their defence is tough to break down - no team has scored more than two goals against them. But that record is under serious threat tonight and the Kurukuru are likely to continue their streak of high-scoring wins.

New Caledonia vs Tuvalu
Underdogs Tuvalu will see this as their best chance yet to finally pick up an historic win. This is their second appearance at the OFC championships and they are yet to post a victory but will fancy their chances here. New Caledonia have had a disastrous campaign results-wise and are the only other side without any points to show for their efforts. In fairness, they have been unlucky in previous matches but they were well beaten last night by a Kamal Hassan-inspired Fiji. Coach Eric Michalak and his men will be desperate to restore some pride and get something from the tournament so a loss will be out of the question. But Tuvalu have a real chance of causing an upset - New Caledonia's poor run must have affected their confidence and, despite losing all their matches, Tuvalu have shown some promising signs. They gave Fiji a bit of a scare on day three and led 1-0 for much of the game before the hosts showed their class by hitting five goals in the last ten minutes. Tuvalu more than make up for what they lack in the technical department with their determined attitude and, if they can apply themselves as they did against Fiji, New Caledonia could have a very tough game on their hands indeed.

Vanuatu will have a bye today.

Upcoming matches:
12/8/10 4:30pm New Zealand vs Fiji
12/8/10 6:30pm Tahiti vs Solomon Islands
12/8/10 8:30pm New Caledonia vs Tuvalu





Courtesy: OFC Web Site


New Zealand 6 Fiji 4

A four-goal haul from Croatian-born Micky Malivuk has helped New Zealand to a 6-4 upset win over 2009 finalists Fiji on day five of the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva.

The Futsal Whites, who did not take part in last year’s competition, saw off a strong second half challenge from the hosts to secure their third consecutive win.

Fiji meanwhile will be disappointed to record their first loss of the campaign and with the Solomon Islands still to play, their title hopes have taken a severe blow.

Malivuk set the Kiwis off on the right foot with a goal inside five minutes after patient build-up play.

Up-and-coming youngster Dylan Manickum made it two in the 14th minute, the 18-year-old firing home on his second attempt after a New Zealand breakaway.

Matt Chandler's men were hitting their stride and a goal came less than a minute later again through front man Malivuk.

A lapse in concentration let Fiji back in the game after Marvin Eakins’ restart ran through the legs of Lucas Da Silva for Fiji’s Sedrick Dutt to run onto and slot the ball home.

The second period was high intensity as Fiji pushed numbers forward in search of goals. Roy Krishna grabbed one in the 24th minute before Malivuk gave New Zealand another two-goal cushion.

The teams once again exchanged goals midway through the half with Petero Dauniseka and Lucas Da Silva both getting on the score card before Fijian defender Jo Dugucagi brought the deficit back to one with seven minutes to play.

But it was that man Malivuk who was again in the right place at the right time, finishing off a set play in the 35th minute.

New Zealand join Fiji on nine points but the hosts hang onto second place behind the Solomon Islands with a superior goal difference.

To download the match summary, click here.





Courtesy: OFC Web Site


Tahiti 2 Solomon Islands 6

The Solomon Islands were in a confident mood at the OFC Futsal Championship today playing with a ‘fifth attacker’ for much of the game against Tahiti.

Dickson Kadau’s side kept up their winning ways with a 6-2 scoreline to extend their lead at the top of the table after contenders Fiji dropped points against New Zealand.

With the introduction of goalkeeper David Lafai in the second period, the Kurukuru experimented with the ‘power play’ of futsal where Lafai stepped into the attack acting as a pivot on the halfway line.

Solomon Islands looked comfortable from the outset with captain Elliot Ragomo hitting the post in the first minute of the game.

The 19-year-old hit the upright again soon after before putting one away in the 9th minute.

But the Tahitians hit back through Meiarii Si Man after a 12th minute breakaway. That goal seemed to spring life into the Kurukuru team as they scored two more before the break, including a stunning back heal from Lenson Bisili.

The Solomons tried their luck with a five-man attack in the second period but Tahiti did well to contain them as Jack Wetney was the only one to break through inside the half-hour mark.

Loic Oldham brought the deficit back to one when he scored in the 28th minute before Micah Lea’alafa and Jeffery Bule took the score out to six, making it another impressive outing for the Kurukuru.


To download the match summary, click here.




Courtesy: OFC Web Site


New Caledonia 9 Tuvalu 2

New Caledonia have recorded their first win of the OFC Futsal Championship beating Tuvalu 9-2 at Vodafone Arena today.

Cedrick Humuni stole the show with four classy goals to take his tournament tally to eight - just two behind Kurukuru forward Micah Lea’alafa, who was top goal scorer last year.

Despite four consecutive losses, New Caledonia have shown signs of promise throughout the week and were unlucky not to pick up points against the likes of Vanuatu and Tahiti.

But Erik Michalak’s side finally got what they deserved turning performance into points as Tuvalu struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

Humuni, who has been impressive throughout the tournament, opened the scoring just two minutes into the match with a nicely timed run into their area and cool finish.

Captain Loic Caunes doubled their lead in the sixth minute but Tuvalu hit straight back through Laupula Huehue who got the faintest of touches to deflect a long range shot goalward.

New Caledonia had two more before the break, both from Humuni, and continued their scoring spree in the second period. Eventually Louis Waishitine, Yoann Waikedre and Caryl Thepinier had added their names to the score sheet.

An unfortunate New Caledonia own goal in the dying stages gave Tuvalu some consolation but Toakai Puapua’s side are still without a point from four matches.

Tuvalu face another tough challenge against New Zealand tomorrow while New Caledonia have a rest day.

To download the match summary, click here.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com