The 2019 Ultimate Fiji Soccer Cup has ticked over its halfway point with a full list of fixtures played on Wednesday.
Matches were played at the Fiji Football Academy in Ba as well as Nadi’s Sangam Primary
School with the pick of the day being IFG New South Wales and Fiji West in the boys senior.
The two sides competed in the final of last year’s tournament with West winning the encounter via a penalty shootout.
This time around the Australians took the lead before the locals equalised to see the points shared between the sides.
There was a standout performance in the girls senior match between IFG South Australia and Fiji South with Matika Hilliard-Faulkner scoring a hat trick for the visitors.
South Australia’s captain capped off her player of the match performance with a pinpoint free kick into the top left corner.
Ultimate Fiji Soccer Cup director Bruce Tilt said the opening days of the competition have been action packed, adding teams are already working out weaknesses in their upcoming opponents.
“It’s been a really busy first half of the tournament,” Tilt said.
“The players are enjoying the challenges of playing in hot weather as teams look to find advantages in their opponents.
“We are already noticing a couple of teams with outstanding talent and oppositions coaches are taking notes as they analyse their rivals for the rest of the week.
“Many of the age groups are very close with each result vital to those teams that want to make the finals.”
Tilt said the atmosphere has been enhanced around the grounds with the introduction of Australian entertainer Craig Woodward who has encouraged plenty of positive noise from the sidelines.
“One of the highlights of the event this year has been the introduction of Woody who has been creating an atmosphere in the stands,” Tilt explained.
“He has been leading the chants and I have loved seeing the Fijians as well as the Australians getting involved and showing their enthusiasm for the competition.”
Thursday is the penultimate day of competition in the development and junior age groups while crunch games will be occurring across the board as teams look to finish in the top two.
Fixtures will once again be held at the Fiji Football Academy and Sangam Primary School while Prince Charles Park will also host a handful of matches.
Wednesday, December 4 results – https://ultimatefijicup.leaguerepublic.com/l/index.htm l
* first goal scorers = additional point
Boys Development (under-12s)
Ba v Nadi 2-1*
Boys Junior (under-14s)
Ba v Lautoka 1-3*
Nadi v Auckland Knights (score not in yet)
Boys Youth (under-15s)
Engadine v IFG South Australia *1-1
IFG New South Wales v Fiji West 1-2*
Fiji North v Fiji South 1-1*
Boys Senior (under-18s)
IFG NSW v Fiji West *1-1
Fiji South v Fiji North (score not in yet)
Auckland All-Stars v Manukau United 1-1*
Girls Junior (under-14s)
Ba v Lautoka (score not in yet)
Nadi v IFG SA *4-0
Girls Youth (under-16s)
IFG SA v Fiji South 0-2*
Girls Senior (under-19s)
IFG SA v Fiji Girls *3-0
