Courtesy:
Oceania Football Web SiteKurukuru heading for World CupThe Solomon Islands have qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 after a dramatic come-from-behind 6-4 victory over Tahiti in the final of the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva.
Against all expectations, the Solomon Islands were 4-1 down shortly after the halftime interval but produced some typical Kurukuru flair in the second spell to dash Tahiti’s hopes and book themselves a ticket to Thailand. There was also plenty of drama in the day’s other game, New Zealand’s Futsal Whites earning bronze after winning a thrilling 3rd/4th play-off with Vanuatu on a penalty shoot-out after the scores were locked at 1-1.
But the day belonged to the Kurukuru and captain Elliot Ragomo was overcome with emotion at the final whistle.
“It feels amazing, this is our dream,” he said. “We have worked hard for this and we really deserve it. We will make both the Solomon Islands and Oceania proud. Last time, we didn't do very well but I promise Oceania that we will fight for every single minute at this World Cup. People need to know that futsal is growing in the Pacific and the world should be aware of the Pacific countries.”
The Solomon Islands had won the last three Oceania championships in a row and were heavy favourites going into this winner-takes-all clash, despite only managing to beat Tahiti 1-0 when the sides met during the group stages. But the Tahitians, who have been one of the tournament’s most well-organised teams under the expert tutorship of coach Heitapu Hunter, had clearly not read the script written by the Kurukuru’s fanatical fans.
As was the case in that earlier Group B match, Tahiti set themselves up superbly as a defensive unit and the Solomon Islands’ much-vaunted attack struggled to break through the wall of white shirts they found in front of them. But Hunter’s side was not content to sit back and let their opponents dictate the play, as the Kurukuru found out the hard way in the fifth minute when Gaby Kavera squeezed the ball past goalkeeper David Lafai to give the Tahitians a shock lead.
The strike stunned most of the 3000 fans packed into Vodafone Arena but the rowdy Kurukuru faithful would not be silenced for long and had something to cheer when skipper Ragomo drew his side level in the 10th minute.
It seemed then as if normal order had been resumed and the Solomons would go on to characteristically take the Tahiti defence apart. But that rearguard held firm and, remarkably, Tahiti led 3-1 at the break thanks to goals from Areti Williams and Teva Durot.
It was obvious by this stage that Kurukuru coach Dickson Kadau and his players would not be in for a straightforward path to the World Cup and that was underlined three minutes after the restart when Mana Faarahia made it 4-1.
Tahiti appeared to now have one foot on the plane to Thailand but the youthful Solomon side was not about to let their opponents entertain thoughts of packing their bags. It was their two talismen, Ragomo and former player of the tournament Jack Wetney, who the Kurukuru turned to for inspiration and the duo did not disappoint.
Wetney struck twice in quick succession, in the 24th and 26th minutes, to turn the match on its head and the scores were level a minute later when Ragomo found the net to thunderous applause.
It got even louder just seconds later when Ragomo put his side ahead for the first time in the match. Having worked so hard to get themselves back into the contest, the Kurukuru were unlikely to let the advantage slip and that lead was instead extended in the 38th minute.
Again it was Ragomo who produced the goods just when his team needed him to score his fourth goal of the evening and 19th of the tournament.
Scoring twice in the last two minutes was a feat that proved beyond Tahiti as the Kurukuru held on to deservedly earn Oceania’s sole spot at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
“We lost concentration in the first half and didn't expect they would do such quick counter-attacks,” Ragomo said. “But we knew what we were going to do in the second half and used our speed and power to get back into the game. Once we scored a couple of goals, we knew we would go on to win.”
Tahiti coach Hunter was frustrated to have lost the match from such a promising position but still had plenty of praise for his players.
“If you are winning 4-1 you need to hold onto that lead and we weren’t able to do so,” he said. “That little bit of experience cost us in the end but this has been an amazing tournament for my boys and I’m proud of what they’ve done.”
Earlier in the day, goals to New Zealand’s Micky Malivuk and Vanuatu’s Lui Sifas resulted in a 1-1 draw in the 3rd/4th play-off as the Futsal Whites were taken to their second penalty shoot-out in two days. Understudy goalkeeper David Plowright emerged as the unlikely hero, stepping out of the shadows to score New Zealand’s last penalty himself and then pulling off a save from opposing custodian Chickau Mansale’s spot kick to give his country a 5-4 win.
And there was some consolation for Tahiti when goalkeeper Atanui Tetihia, who produced a brilliant display in the final to deny the champions on numerous occasions, was presented with the Golden Gloves for the second year running as the tournament's best custodian while Ragomo took home both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, an award given to the player deemed best on show throughout the week.
New Zealand - Vanuatu Match Summary:
click hereTahiti - Solomon Islands Match Summary:
click hereCompetition Summary:
click here Courtesy:
Oceania Football Web SiteSolomon Islands 6 - 4 TahitiTahiti - Solomon Islands Match Summary:
click here OFC will be represented by the Solomon Islands at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 after the Kurukuru beat Tahiti 6-4 in a dramatic final of the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva.
The Solomon Islands had won the last three Oceania championships in a row and were heavy favourites going into this winner-takes-all clash, despite only managing to beat Tahiti 1-0 when the sides met during the group stages.
But the Tahitians, who have been one of the tournament’s most well-organised teams under the expert tutorship of coach Heitapu Hunter, had clearly not read the script written for their heroes by the Kurukuru’s fanatical fans.
As was the case in that earlier Group B match, Tahiti set themselves up superbly as a defensive unit and the Solomon Islands’ much-vaunted attack struggled to break through the wall of white shirts they found in front of them.
But Hunter’s side was not content to sit back and let the Kurukuru dictate the play, as they found out the hard way in the fifth minute when Gaby Kavera squeezed the ball past goalkeeper David Lafai to give the Tahitians a shock lead.
The strike stunned most of the 3000 fans packed into Vodafone Arena but the rowdy Kurukuru faithful would not be silenced for long and had something to cheer when captain Elliot Ragomo drew his side level in the 10th minute.
It seemed then as if normal order has been resumed and the Solomons would go on to characteristically take the Tahiti defence apart. But that rearguard held firm and, remarkably, Tahiti led 3-1 at the break thanks to goals from Areti Williams and Teva Durot.
It was obvious by this stage that Kurukuru coach Dickson Kadau and his players would not be in for a straightforward path to the World Cup and that was underlined three minutes after the break when Mana Faarahia made it 4-1.
Tahiti appeared to now have one foot on the plane to Thailand but the youthful Solomon side was not about to let their opponents entertain thoughts of packing their bags. It was their two talismen, Ragomo and former player of the tournament Jack Wetney, who the Kurukuru turned to for inspiration and the duo did not disappoint.
Wetney struck twice in quick succession, in the 24th and 26th minutes, to turn the match on its head and the scores were level a minute later when Ragomo found the net to thunderous applause.
It got even louder just seconds later when Ragomo put his side ahead, and finally on track for the World Cup, for the first time in the match. Having worked so hard to get themselves back into the game, the Kurukuru were unlikely to let the advantage slip and the lead was instead extended in the 38th minute.
Again it was Ragomo who produced the goods just when his team needed him to score his 19th goal of the tournament.
Scoring twice in the last two minutes was a feat that proved beyond Tahiti as the Kurukuru held on to deservedly earn Oceania’s sole spot at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
QuotesSolomon Islands captain Elliot Ragomo:
It feels amazing, this is our dream. We have worked hard for this and we really deserve it. We will make both the Solomon Islands and Oceania proud. Last time, we didn't do very well but I promise Oceania that we will fight for every single minute at this World Cup. People need to know that futsal is growing in the Pacific and the world should be aware of the Pacific countries. We lost concentration in the first half and didn't expect that they would do such quick counter-attacks. But we knew what we were going to do in the second half and used our speed and power to get back into the game. Once we scored a couple of goals, we knew we would go on to win the game.Tahiti coach Heitapu Hunter:
We need to go home and start getting ready for 2015 because we think we can beat them. But we need to get more experience. If you are winning 4-1 you need to hold onto that lead and we weren't able to do so. We will be ready when we have our next shot at the World Cup in four years. After they scored the second goal, I feel our players let their concentration slip and that's why the Solomons kept scoring. We played really well throughout the tournament but I think that little bit of experience cost us in the end. But this has been an amazing tournament for my boys and I am proud of what they've done.Courtesy:
Oceania Football Web SiteNew Zealand 1 - 1 VanuatuNew Zealand - Vanuatu Match Summary:
click hereThe Futsal Whites have earned bronze at the OFC Futsal Championship in thrilling fashion with a penalty shoot-out win over Vanuatu after the scores were locked at 1-1.
Goalkeeper David Plowright, who has acted as understudy to Elias Billeh for the majority of the tournament, stepped from the shadows to become the hero for New Zealand as he scored the side's last penalty himself and then pulled off a save from opposing goalkeeper Chickau Mansale's spot kick to give his country a 5-4 win.
Both teams suffered crushing blows to their morale yesterday at the semi-final stage and the main task facing coaches Matt Chandler and Jean-Yves Galine was lifting their players’ spirits enough to have a decent crack at third place.
The Futsal Whites missed out on a place in the final in heartbreaking fashion 24 hours ago when they lost to Tahiti on penalties while the confidence levels of Vanuatu would not have been high after they fell to a comprehensive 13-1 defeat to Solomon Islands.
It certainly looked like the sides were bereft of motivation and confidence in the opening half of today’s match – an uninspiring period of few good chances which marked the first time a half has finished goalless in the entirety of the tournament.
The best couple of chances both fell to New Zealand’s Lucas Silva but he could not beat goalkeeper Mansale, who would have been relieved to keep a first-half clean sheet after yesterday’s goal-fest.
The Futsal Whites would not be denied for much longer though and were ahead within four minutes of the second spell, Micky Malivuk volleying home after Daniel Koprivcic had hit the crossbar.
The fans inside Vodafone Arena – a gathering that was already starting to build before the highly-anticipated grand final between Tahiti and Solomon Islands – would have hoped for a raft of further goals, as they have become accustomed to so far at this tourament.
But the scoreboard was not called into action until the final minute when Lui Sifas equalised for Vanuatu with one of the last kicks of the game to send Vanuatu's supporters wild and force the outcome to be decided from the penalty spot.
New Zealand had been through the same scenario yesterday in their semi-final and emerged on the right side of the ledger this time thanks to the heroics of Plowright.
QuotesNew Zealand coach Matt Chandler:
It’s very pleasing. I’d rather have won the penalty shoot-out yesterday but it was nice. I thought our goalkeeper David Plowright was superb. He was very psychologically in the shoot-out clever and did very well. Unfortunately, we conceded with a second to go but I think we deserved to win because we played the better futsal. Nathan Robertson has retired now for us and he was superb. So was our captain Marvin Eakins and the rest of the team. We haven’t lost a game throughout the tournament in open play, only on penalties by one kick, so we have to be pleased.Vanuatu coach Jean-Yves Galine:
We wanted to win this game and we created enough chances to do so but couldn’t take them. If you don’t finish well then it is hard to win games. It is a disappointing way to end the tournament but I want to thank everyone in Vanuatu for their support. Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
