Copyright dailypost
Vanuatu U19 women’s football team suffered their second defeat at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) championship yesterday, after losing 2-0 to hosts Tahiti at Stade Paea Stadium. The loss places Vanuatu at the bottom of Pool B, featuring strong competition including Tahiti, New Caledonia, and regional giants New Zealand. In their opening match, Vanuatu narrowly lost to New Caledonia 1-0 in what was a hard-fought contest. Yesterday’s game saw the Vanuatu side, coached by Joel Rarua, display resilience and effort, but once again struggled in front of goal. “We tried our best to convert our chances, but that continues to be the hardest part for us,” Coach Rarua said post-match. “We improved in other areas and had better structure, but we couldn’t find the back of the net.” The next and final group-stage challenge for the young Vanuatu side will be against tournament favorites New Zealand, a team that has already made a strong statement with back-to-back wins. The Junior Football Ferns crushed Tahiti 7-0 on match day one, the largest margin of victory in the tournament so far, and followed up with another commanding 4-0 win over New Caledonia yesterday. Despite the odds, Coach Rarua is optimistic. “We know New Zealand will be a very tough game, but it’s also a good opportunity for the girls to gain experience and see the level they can aspire to.” U19 midfielder Philles Moses also expressed her appreciation for the support from fans back home. “Thank you to all our supporters in Vanuatu. Please continue to support us in our next game — we really need your encouragement,” he said. Vanuatu will face New Zealand in their final Pool B match as they look to finish the group stage on a positive note, gaining valuable international experience in the process.
