4 Sep 2023

Solomon Islands footballers in fine form as semi-finals loom

6:58 am on 4 September 2023
Tonga’s Sosefo Tolu and Solomon Island’s Dalton Saeni (right) battle for the ball.

Tonga’s Sosefo Tolu and Solomon Island’s Dalton Saeni (right) battle for the ball. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek

Vanuatu will meet hosts New Zealand and Solomon Islands will face Fiji in Wednesday's semi-finals at the men's Oceania Olympic Qualifier in Auckland.

On Sunday, Solomon Islands defeated Tonga 5-1 to finish with three wins from three pool matches after earlier success over Vanuatu and Tonga.

Junior Rocky and Dalton Saeni gave the men in yellow and blue a 2-0 lead at half-time, while Calvin Ohasio and Hudyn Irodao extended that to 4-0 in the second half.

David-John Tuamaholeoa's 74th minute strike for Tonga was the Kingdom's first goal at the championships.

Wesley Toitani finished off the scoring for Solomons shortly after.

Earlier, Vanuatu overcame Samoa 3-1 to clinch runner-up spot in their group.

However, it was the Samoans who struck first, Juan Gobbi heading in a corner in the 16th minute.

Ronn Tasarur with one and Joe Moses with two goals gave Vanuatu a 3-1 lead before half-time and that was how it stayed until the final whistle.

On Saturday, Fiji advanced to the last four by beating late arrivals Papua New Guinea 2-0.

Etonia Dogalau in the fifth minute and Aporosa Yada deep into the second half gave Fiji the win.

PNG had missed their first match, against the host nation, due to visa issues.

Neither regional powerhouses Tahiti nor New Caledonia are competing as those territories compete in Olympic Games under the French flag.