The Digicel Fiji Baby Bula Boys have qualified to next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
This is after Fiji defeated Tahiti 2-1 in the semi-final of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Papeete yesterday.
The result takes Fiji to the final for the first time in 25 years where they will face Oceania powerhouse, New Zealand.
Fiji last played in the final of the OFC U16 championship in 1999 against Australia.
Two brilliant individual goals to Veleni Rasorewa propelled the Fiji Football under-16 to the final of the OFC Men’s Championship in Tahiti.
The Digicel Fiji Baby Bula Boys defeated Tahiti 2-1 in the semi-finals yesterday to break a 25-year jinx in the competition.
Emotions were high at the final whistle as the players, coaches and management burst into jubilation knowing that the Baby Bula Boys are now heading to Qatar for the FIFA U-17 World Cup next year.
Rasorewa beat two defenders in the seventh minute before sliding the ball past Tahiti keeper Keahi Tenania to put Fiji into the lead and bring the game to life.
Tenania was busy again three minutes later when the talented Maika Dau almost made nailed their second goal from a free kick.
Tahiti had some promising moments in the first spell, but they couldn’t get through Fiji’s stubborn defense.
The Fijians led 1-0 at the break and were made to go in defense mode in the second spell as Tahiti mounted waves of attack looking for the equalizer.
However, the hosts only had themselves to blame as they two defenders couldn’t contain the speedy Rasorewa who ran through in the 68th minute to score Fiji’s second and winning goal.
It took a stroke of luck for Tahiti to get back into the match with a shot from outside the box deflecting off a Fijian defeneder and into the back of the net with 20 minutes remaining.
Fiji did just enough to hang on until the last whistle to put them into the final against New Zealand.
