Earlier today, Tahiti earned their place in tomorrow’s final with a penalty shoot-out win over New Zealand after the scores were locked at 3-3 following extra-time.
The 7th/8th play-off this afternoon saw Kiribati earn their first ever victory with a 3-2 success over Tuvalu while Fiji pipped New Caledonia to fifth place with an exciting 8-6 triumph.
But none of the other teams in action today managed to match the speed and skill of the Kurukuru, who put on yet another remarkable attacking display to end Vanuatu’s hopes of reaching the final and confirm they will be heavy favourites in the all-important meeting with Tahiti, the winner of which will go through to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.
The Kurukuru had won their previous match against Tuvalu 16-0 and, while they were up against a far more accomplished team this evening in Vanuatu, appeared intent on getting close to that figure again.
Dickson Kadau’s charges were 8-0 up by halftime and went on to score another five in the second half, to the delight of most of the 2000-plus crowd that crammed into Suva’s Vodafone Arena.
Captain Elliot Ragomo again led by example with a hat-trick and he was joined in scoring three by Micah Lea’alafa and Moffat Sikwa’ae.
Coleman Makau attempted to catch up with them but had to settle for a double while a Jack Wetney strike and an own goal from the unfortunate Ricky Tuigaloa wrapped up the Kurukuru scoring.
Vanuatu’s only response came from Fredy Vava just after halftime but they were never in the contest as the Solomons underlined just how hard it will be for Tahiti to beat them tomorrow.
Source: OFC MEDIA
Solomons-Tahiti final
