Kiribati defeat Tuvalu by 3-2: 2011 OFC Futsal Championship
Kiribati won their first match of the 2011 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship. They defeated Tuvalu in a game for play-off match by 3-2. The match was played on May 19 at the Vodafone Arena Suva, Fiji.
Tuvalu squad is much experienced then the new comers, Kiribati. Both the teams failed to win any match in the group events, but for the new comers to defeat Tuvalu was really something to celebrate. Tuvalu has played in the 2008 and 2010 OFC Futsal Championships.
It was Kiribati who took the lead and Bita Keakea scored the first goal of the match in the 14th minute. Bita Keakea has scored a hat-trick in a match with Fiji.
Tuvalu responded quickly and Matti Uaelesi levelled the matters with Kiribati in the 17th minute of the first half. The score did not remain levelled for long and Borau Taraba from Kiribati scored the second goal of his side.
Bita Keakea scored the third goal for his team in the 27th minute of the match. Kiribati was leading by 3-1. Kiribati's Kireata Sosene was dismissed in the 37thminute of the match. Meauma Petaia from Tuvalu scored the second goal for
his home, but the Kiribati were the eventual winner of the match.
The key goal scorer from Kiribati end, Bita Keakea said, "We are all very excited about it because we are newcomers. Getting a win in our first time at this tournament is a good achievement. We knew it would be hard to beat Tuvalu because they have been
here a few times before, that just shows how well we have done to win this game. We are happy with how we have done across the tournament because we have played as well as we could and scored a few goals. We hope to come back next time if possible.”
Kiribati and Tuvalu are hopeful to perform well in the 2012 OFC Futsal Championships. The match for the fifth and sixth position will be played amongst the New Caledonia and Fiji. The semi-finals will be played amongst Kurukuru, New-Zealand, Vanuatu and
Tahiti today at the Vodafone Arena.
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