Friendly international

Fiji beat Vanuatu in international friendly

With Fiji failing to advance out of Group B at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Oceania Qualifiers, and Vanuatu having to withdraw due to COVID-19, the match offered an opportunity for both sides to get more game time under their belts and for the winner to accumulate FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking points.

Fiji coach Flemming Serritslev made a handful of changes to the starting 11 which lost 2-1 to Papua New Guinea days earlier, while Vanuatu were missing Australia-based star Mitch Cooper, who had already returned home.

Vanuatu deny New Caledonia a double victory

The first match took only fourteen minutes for New Caledonia to score the goal which would secure them the win.

In his international debut Antoine Roine, the top scorer in the Super Ligue with 22 goals this season, didn’t take long to show his skills in front of goal. Accelerating past the defence to latch onto a cross from the left from Joseph Tchacko.

New Caledonia continued to dominate the first half but despite a couple of credible chances, were unable to add anything further to their tally.