NEWS

Thumping end to U20s World Cup dream - 17-Dec-2008

FIJI’S hopes of qualifying for the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt is now over after the side suffered another humiliating loss to New Caledonia by 3-0 in Tahiti yesterday.

This follows their 0-3 loss to favourites New Zealand in the opener on Sunday.

The Juan Carlos Buzzetti-coached side played with ten-men with 21 minutes remaining before fulltime, when Tavua’s Romuero was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 69th minute.

And Fiji FA president Dr Shamshud din Sahu Khan said yesterday he would be awaiting the full report from the team management on what went wrong. Dr Sahu Khan said he was aware of the bug that sparked the team camp prior to the first match, but opted not to make further comment pending on the full tour report.

“It is disappointing but I will have to get the full tour report first before I can make a comment,” the Ba-based lawyer said.

All New Caledonian goals were scored in the first half with the first one coming as early as the third minute.

Allen Hnautra put NC ahead when he beat Fiji goalkeeper Filimoni Bolatawa.

Jean Wahnyamalla doubled the lead for NC with a clinical finish before the match was declared over as a contest when he grabbed his second for the day for a handy 3-0 lead at the break.

New Zealand and New Caledonia are now the top bets to make it through.

Fiji will play its formality match against Tahiti tomorrow. In the second match favourites New Zealand went down to hosts Tahiti 1-2.

NZ scored in the 21st minute of first spell through Costa Barbarouses but minutes later his teammate Adam McGeorge was given his marching orders as All Whites headed into the breather leading 1-nil but a man down.

In the 66th minute of the 2nd spell Garry Rochette pulled one back for the hosts.

With NZ a man down, Tahiti took advantage and stole the winner in the 89th minute.


MAIKA KASAMI

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