… win away from qualifying for World Cup in India

 

THE Solomon Islands Under-17 football team are one win away from qualifying for October’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

The local side thrashed Samoa 12 – 0 at the OFC U-17 Championship at Stade Pater in Tahiti yesterday afternoon, finishing Group B matches with a hard-earned record of one win, one draw and one loose, 14 goals for and three goals against.

New Zealand’s 5 – 0 win over Fiji yesterday prepared the Solomon Islands for Wednesday’s semi-final match against New Caledonia who topped Group A.

New Zealand will play Papua New Guinea on a second semifinal on Wednesday while Solomon Islands take on New Caledonia at the first semifinal matches, 1pm Solomon Islands time.

Either Solomon Islands or New Caledonia who will win the semi-final match will secure a place at the World Cup, as both finalists qualify.

The grand final will be played this coming Saturday.

Solomon Islands made it in over Fiji on goal difference, after their 12 goals against Samoa in yesterday’s early match.

After playing outstanding football against New Zealand, going down just 2-1, the local youngsters continued their impressive form in yesterday’s match.

The first goal was ten minutes in the making and ended up being as easy as a tap in from Ali Mekawir, to open the scoring, his second coming in the 19^thminute courtesy of a shot that slipped through Talita Hafoka’s fingers and between his legs.

Steward Toata was next on the board smashing a fumbled ball in at close range, before the striker made room for Junior Allen to enter the fray. Mekawir completed his hat-trick on the stroke of the 30^th minute and the fifth and final goal of the half came from Junior Kaoni in additional time.

Junior Kaoni scored a second half hat-trick to take his tally to four for the match while Don Kaena and Junior Allen both scored two apiece to take the full-time score to 12 – five more than their previous best win against Samoa.

OFC Media reports, Coach Marlon Houkarawa was very impressed with his players although admitted they could have been much more prolific.

“It’s always a good thing to earn three points in a tournament so I’m excited for the boys,” he said.

“Obviously, we could have scored a lot more goals but it doesn’t always turn out that way so I’m still more than happy with the goals we did score,” Houkarawa told OFC Media.

It says Samoa’s coach Desmond Faaiuaso was disappointed his side couldn’t close out the tournament on a better note.

“I’m very disappointed in the way we finished the tournament,” Faaiuaso said.

“It’s been a good experience for us overall however. We’ve improved a lot since we started this journey and I’m still proud of my boys for the effort they put into this tournament.”

New Zealand were out to top the group with the full nine points.