Tahiti secure bronze after solid fight back

Tahiti secured the bronze medal at the OFC Nations Cup in a match that took a while to get going.

Tahiti celebrates the winning goal. (Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek)

Tahiti – Fiji 2-1

Tahiti captain Teaonui Tehau became the big hero of the game, with his two second-half goals to secure his side the bronze medal, after Roy Krishna had given Fiji the lead.

“I’m not the only one on the field. We are a team of more than 11 players. We are happy to this third place. Unfortunately, we miss the final because it’s the goals of our team. When you are player, you want to go to final. But yes, we are happy for this third place,” Tehau tells the press after the match.

Fiji coach Rob Sherman said after the semi final loss to Vanuatu that he didn’t really see the point in bronze finals, but he was still annoyed after the loss.

“Whatever game you’re playing, I want to win. We used some non-starters and in the end I don’t regret that. It’s been a good learning curve,” he says.

A cagey first half saw chances few and far between in the bronze final.

Both sides struggled for control of possession. And the first shot on goal came after half the first 45 had passed, when Lekima Gonerau tried his luck from distance for Fiji, but it was straight into the arms of Tahiti keeper Teave Teamotuaitau.

The first half was overall quite a dull and quiet affair, and at the start of the second half, Fiji coach Rob Sherman, who had changed the full 11 from the semi final, decided to throw on Roy Krishna and Filipe Baravilala.

And just before the hour mark Sherman’s substitutions payed off. Roy Krishna was played through with a ball that caught the Tahiti defence completely off guard.

The veteran captain of the Bula Boys made no mistake as he rounded the keeper and put the ball into the empty net.

Fiji took over the play following the goal, but it was Tahiti who managed to get the next goal.

Substitute youngster Franck Papaura did great in the buildup before passing to Tahiti’s captain Teaonui Tehau, who slotted the ball into the corner from the edge of the box.

And seven minutes before full time, the Tahiti captain stepped up to a free kick at the edge of the box, took his run up and smashed the ball over the wall and in, via the crossbar.