The Extra Fiji Futsal side produced a commanding performance to register a 4-1 victory over Tuvalu in their third outing at the OFC Futsal Men’s Cup 2025 at the Vodafone Arena in Suva last night.
The Jose Gerardo–coached outfit was made to work hard for their second win of the tournament, as Tuvalu showed grit and determination on both ends of the court.
Despite Fiji’s attacking intent from the opening whistle, Tuvalu’s captain Reme Timuani, alongside Taufaiva Ionatana and Flamez Mokeni, frustrated the hosts with sharp counters and firm defending.
Fiji, however, broke the deadlock when Bruce Hughes cleverly chipped a free kick over the Tuvalu goalkeeper. The hosts then turned up the pressure, with Merril Nand doubling the advantage through a close-range strike before Filipe Baravilala converted a penalty to make it 3-0 at halftime.
After the breather, Ramzan Khan extended Fiji’s lead with an early strike to effectively put the game beyond reach. Tuvalu, refusing to go down without a fight, pulled one back through Aloesi Nukualofa, who fired in from the right wing to spark a late push.
Tuvalu continued to press with Jason Alama threatening the Fijian defence, but the hosts held their ground to secure the result.
The win keeps Fiji’s campaign alive following their earlier 5-4 triumph over Vanuatu and a 2-5 defeat to Solomon Islands.
Captain Kitione Baleloa and his men now turn their focus to a crucial final group match against New Zealand, set for Wednesday, September 23 at 7pm, where a win could boost their hopes of progressing further in the competition.
Halftime: Fiji 3–0 Tuvalu
Fulltime: Fiji 4–1 Tuvalu
Scorers:
Fiji – Hughes, Nand, Baravilala, Khan
Tuvalu – Nukualofa
