Source: OFC MEDIA
A goal in each half to Didier Kalip and Jean Kaltak sealed victory for Moise Poida’s men who move to six points after earlier beating American Samoa 7-0 in their opening match. Fiji meanwhile have only managed one point from their two games with Papua New Guinea likely to claim second spot in Group A if they can beat underdogs American Samoa in the second match on day two.
Fiji came out hungry for a win after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Papua New Guinea two days ago and had the best early chance through Krishneel Krishna, brother of Fiji speedster Roy Krishna, who saw his long range effort well saved by the Vanuatu goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel.
But it was Vanuatu’s left-sided flanker Didier Kalip getting the scoring underway in the 20th minute of the game. As one of the standouts of the tournament so far, the 20-year-old latched onto a well-weighted ball from Eddison Stephen and drilled the ball through the legs of Fiji goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva from a tight angle.
Vanuatu settled into their work playing an attractive brand of football and enjoying a fair share of possession while Fiji looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Lautoka-based Abbu Shaheed looking lively.
Despite a series of corners just before the break, Fiji couldn’t capitilise and went into half-time with all the work still left to do. It was a corner in the second half where they thought they had the equaliser, defender Akei Uluibau sending his powerful header inches over the bar.
Chances continued to fall for Fiji but it was Vanuatu who were clinical down the other end of the park, Jean Kaltak the beneficiary of a perfectly placed free-kick from Kalip to head home his second goal of the tournament.
Moments later Taione Kerevanua had a glorious opportunity to grab one back for Fiji after his initial shot was palmed straight back to him but the substitute could only slice the rebound just wide of the upright.
Fiji coach Ravinesh Kumar was left to rue the missed chances.
“Our finishing has not been good enough in the two matches,” said Kumar. “Some of the possession work and build up is ok but we have to score goals to give ourselves a chance of winning and we haven’t been able to do that.
We’re very dissapointed with this result today.”
Meanwhle Vanuatu coach Moise Poida paid credit to his defence for keeping two clean sheets.
“My two central defenders Brian Kaltak and captain Lele Hinge have been solid and I feel very safe with Seiloni Iaruel in goal. Our focus has been to get through to the semi final and we have done that already with one group
match in hand. So I’m very pleased with the performances.”
Both teams will now await the outcome of the Papua New Guinea-American Samoa battle before heading into day three. Fiji will need a big win against American Samoa in their final group match and hope that other results go their way to have any chance of advancing to the semi finals and keeping alive their dream to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia later this year.
Fiji 0 Vanuatu 2
