The Solomon Islands National U-16 team, the Katukatu, kept their semi-final hopes alive at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship with a convincing 4-0 victory over Samoa on Thursday at the National Stadium.
Both teams entered the match desperate for three points after opening-round defeats, knowing only a win would keep their campaigns alive heading into the weekend’s decisive group fixtures.
A tightly contested first half saw both sides create chances but fail to convert, leaving the scores locked at 0-0 at the break.
The hosts returned with renewed intensity in the second half, with forwards Charles Daomae and Junior Sam leading the charge.
The duo netted two goals each to seal a comfortable win for Henry Fa’arodo Jnr’s side.
“For us, coming into this game was about how we can set ourselves back and giving ourselves a chance and I think the boys understood how important this match was,” Fa’arodo said after the final whistle.
Reflecting on the goalless first half, the coach admitted his side struggled to find rhythm early on.
“I felt in the first half we committed too many errors, wayward passing, poor weight of passes, and decision-making that let us down,” he explained.
Fa’arodo added that the win provides a vital confidence boost heading into their must-win final group match on Sunday.
Standing in their way are 11-time champions New Zealand, with victory needed to guarantee a semi-final spot for the young Katukatu.
“I think the belief is still there. This is football, and anything can happen. Going into our last match, the main message for the boys is to stay humble, stay focused, and get the job done, we still have one hurdle to clear,” Fa’arodo said.
In the day’s other Group B clash, New Zealand and New Caledonia battled to a goalless draw, setting up a thrilling final round of matches this coming Sunday.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
