Fiji football fans had their eyes firmly on veteran striker Roy Krishna, but his side Bula FC went down 1-0 to Tahiti United in their Round 2 encounter at the Santos National Football Stadium this afternoon.
Krishna, one of Fiji’s most celebrated football exports, was recalled into Bula FC’s starting line-up by coach Stephane Auvray as the side aimed to maintain an unbeaten run in the round.
However, the experienced forward found limited opportunities as Tahiti United controlled large portions of the match.
Tahiti United entered the contest eager to secure their first win of the season, and they showed early intent despite challenging weather conditions, with high heat and humidity slowing the pace of the game.
The Tahitian side created the better scoring chances in the opening spell, with Germain Haewegene posing the biggest threat in attack.
He forced a strong save from Bula FC goalkeeper Didier Desprez before captain Teaonui Tehau missed another opportunity, dragging his shot wide.
Krishna, known for his sharp finishing and attacking creativity, struggled to gain momentum as Bula FC found it difficult to push forward consistently.
The Fijian star saw little service upfront as Tahiti United’s defence held firm.
The match remained evenly contested in the second half, with both teams working hard but struggling to create clear scoring chances.
The breakthrough eventually came through a penalty after Semi Nabenu was ruled to have handled the ball inside the box following a VAR review by referee Calvin Berg.
Tehau calmly stepped up and converted from the spot to give Tahiti United the lead.
Bula FC pressed hard in the closing stages, with 13 minutes of additional time offering hope of a late equaliser.
However, they were unable to seriously test Tahiti United goalkeeper Teave Teamotuaitau.
Tehau nearly doubled his tally late in the match but was denied by Desprez, who produced a smart save to keep Bula FC within striking distance.
Bula FC were left frustrated in the dying seconds when Kaile Auvray appealed for a penalty after going down inside the area, but VAR ruled there was no foul.
The result sees Tahiti United register their first win of the season, while Krishna and Bula FC will now look to regroup and bounce back in their next outing.
