Solomon Islands defeat Vanuatu 2-1 to secure their first win and three points at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship
Both sides entered the match desperate to bounce back from opening-round defeats, with Vanuatu looking to recover from a 4-1 loss to Tahiti and Solomon Islands aiming to respond after falling 5-1 to New Zealand.
The first major opportunity arrived in the 13th minute when George Lea’i won a penalty after latching onto Walcott Kona’s incisive through ball before being clipped from behind by Vanuatu defender Matthew Naviti. Le’ai stepped up himself but fired his spot-kick over the crossbar, allowing Vanuatu to escape.
Despite the early scare, Vanuatu took the lead on the half-hour mark through captain Russle Allaleo. A defensive mix-up following a clearance saw Solomon Islands defender Edward Waleilia slip at a crucial moment, leaving Allaleo with the simplest of finishes as he calmly slotted home.
The advantage lasted only five minutes. Greggy Gau restored parity in spectacular fashion, unleashing a powerful strike from outside the penalty area that flew beyond the reach of the Vanuatu goalkeeper.
Solomon Islands completed the turnaround before the break when Lea’i made amends for his earlier penalty miss. Winning possession high up the pitch, the forward wasted no time in shooting from distance, catching goalkeeper Ezekiel Tasso off guard as the ball found the back of the net.
The win hands Solomon Islands their first three points of the tournament, while Vanuatu remain in search of their first victory.
OFC PRESS RELEASE
