A late penalty secured a narrow 1-0 victory for Fiji over the Solomon Islands in a tense opening match of the Tri-Nations FIFA International ‘A’ Friendlies at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this evening.
The match, played under challenging wet conditions, was a physical battle as both teams struggled to adapt to the slippery pitch.
The Solomon Islands had the first real opportunity of the game when William Komasi found Raphael Le’ai on the right flank. However, Le’ai’s timing was slightly off, and the chance to deliver a decisive cross slipped away.
Solomon Islands’ Bobby Leslie nearly broke the deadlock after rising to meet a well-taken Micah Le’alafa free-kick. His header, however, was denied by the post, leaving the Fijian defense scrambling.
For their part, Fiji struggled to create clear-cut chances, with most of their attempts sailing wide off the target.
As the first half ended in a stalemate, the second half saw both teams intensify their efforts.
Fiji opted for long balls, while the Solomon Islands focused on keeping things tight at the back, but the deteriorating field conditions made fluid play difficult.
From the sidelines, Interim Coach Moses Toata and incoming Head Coach Josh Smith gave most players game time. Ali Mekawir, Joses Nawo, Tigi Molea, and John Orobulu were introduced – as this was the first test of international football in the build-up towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
“It was a great opportunity to see the boys play international football,” Coach Smith said in a post-match.
“I was pleased with the effort and the commitment to the match, no one can deny they fought and played with passion.
The game looked destined for a draw until Fiji was awarded a late penalty when substitute goalkeeper Harold Nauania came out for a high ball clearance that caught an incoming Fijian forward – and following brief discussions from the touchline the Papua New Guinea (PNG) referee, David Yareboinen pointed to the spot.
Fiji’s performance left home supporters nervously clinging to the result as the Solomon Islands showed great resilience in the final minutes of play.
“We had some good opportunities and should have capitalized but they also had some good opportunities. The match could have gone either way,” Smith said.
“We now shift our focus to our game against Hong Kong and hope the boys recover before the short turnaround. Unfortunately, we will probably have some players miss out due to injury, but it’s a good opportunity for other players to show themselves.
-SIFF Media
