Tahiti secured second place in the OFC Futsal championship in Suva tonight with a gutsy 2-1 win over Vanuatu in their final match of the tournament.

Matana Bea was the toast of Tahiti when his last minute winner propelled his side over Vanuatu and into the silver medal spot.

For Vanuatu it brought an end to their World Cup dream and the wild celebrations of the Tahitians were in sharp contrast to the tears of the Vanuatu side.

Vanuatu went ahead in the fifth minute when Fedy Vava fired home from close range after a swift attack led by Derek Malas.

Tahiti have made a name for themselves at this tournament as a team who will fight to the death and defend with their lives. But they also have a very dangerous counter attack and Vanuatu found this out the hard way when Michel Maihuri equalised in the 16th minute following a swift break

The second half was an intense battle of attack versus defence. Vanuatu were in desperate need of a goal to keep their championship dream alive and controlled long spells of possession while Tahiti blocked everything that was thrown at them with a tight knit structurally sound defence.

As the clock wound down Vanuatu started taking more risks forward and Bea was able to capitalise with a clincal Tahitian counter attack with 10 seconds remaining.

The crowd made up of predominantly Solomon Island fans adopted Tahiti as their own as the game progressed and the Tahitian spirit and endeavour was inspiring for all involved.

As the final whistle sounded Tahiti erupted into a wild celebration before performing the Haka for the appreciative crowd.

Tahiti coach Rani Bea described the win as the proudest moment of his short Futsal coaching career.

“I have so much happiness in me right now, but most of all I want to thank God.

“Before the tournament I didn’t think we could go this far because we have never competed at this level before.

“But game after game we started to believe we could win the gold medal and to end up with the silver is just amazing.

“This will have a big impact on Futsal in Tahiti because now all the young people will believe that they can do it.”

“At the start of the tournament we had no one supporting us but by the end the whole stand was shouting for us. It is a moment I will never forget.”

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VANUATU vs TAHITI
VODAFONE ARENA, SUVA, FIJI
SATURDAY 14 JUNE

TAH: 1. Rehia DAVIO (gk); 3. Jimmy RIARIA; 4. Romeo PATIRA; 6. Michel MAIHURI; 10. Usiera PUKOKI.
SUBS: 2. Matana BEA; 5. Lysis TAUHA; 7. Steeven TINO; 8. Tetuanui TINOMOE; 9. Iorama BEA; 11. Amau TETUANUI; 12. Fernand TUANUA (rgk)
COACH: Rani BEA (TAH)

VAN: 1. Chikau MANSALE (gk); 3. Ben EDWARD; 5. Fedy VAVA; 6. Derek MALAS; 10. Jack Vira ALA.
SUBS: 2. Terry QUARE; 4. Lui SIFAS; 7. Ben HUNGAI; 8. Louis DOMINQUE; 9. Siardon Mera TALKANAMAL; 11. Saen Wowut FANAI; 22. Daniel MANSALE (rgk).

REFEREE: Scott KIDSON (AUS)
2nd REFEREE: Rajnish DAVE (FIJ)
3rd REFEREE: Amitesh BEHARI (FIJ)

LIVE TEXT UPDATES

0′- The match gets underway and its end to end stuff

2′- Tahiti has a chance but Chikau Mansale saves!

4′- Vanuatu miss what looked an easy chance for Derek Malas!

5′- Time out called by Vanuatu

7′- Tahiti shoot but Mansale saves superbly!

9′- Tahiti get caught on the counter attack!

10′- GOAL! Fedy VAVA scores for Vanuatu and the small but vocal Ni-Vanuatu fans erupt in delight!

11′- Fedy VAVA breaks clear but shoots wide – so close for Vanuatu!

12′- Good buildup play by Tahiti but MALAS and TALKANAMAL break clear – its a corner for Vanuatu

12′- Shot by Ben EDWARD is saved by Rehia DAVIO

14′- Ben EDWARD shoots again and forces another save from DAVIO – exciting stuff from both teams!

14′- Romeo PATIRA blocks a Derek MALAS shot!

15′- ALA loses the ball to Michel MAIHURI but Ben EDWARD wins it back!

15′- Ben EDWARD strikes a beautiful shot and Rehia DAVIO pulls off a wonderful save – its a head to head duel between these two players!

15′- Time out called by Tahiti

15′- Vanuatu miss a great chance to go 2-0 up as Saen FANAI fails to connect cleanly with a Fedy VAVA cross inside the Tahiti circle

15′- Fedy VAVA has become more and more influential for Vanuatu as this tournament has progressed – and he’s making all the difference here this afternoon

16′- Vanuatu keep possession searching for an opening but Tahiti refuse to lie down

16′- GOAL! Tahiti has equalised in sensational fashion!!!!!! Mansale lets one slip through his hands and its now 1-1!!!! Goal to Michel MAIHURI!

16′- Tension grips the Vodafone Arena as the match and championship swing back into Solomon Islands favour…who will qualify for Brazil?!

17′- A one-two play by FANAI and TALKANAMAL results in a goal kick and the recriminations for Vanuatu begin

17′- A clever chip shot from Terry QUARE deflects for a Vanuatu corner!

18′- Romeo PATIRA blocks FANAI’s shot and it stays Tahiti 1 Vanuatu 1!

19′- Vanuatu are camped in Tahiti’s half as the energy levels of both teams hit a high as they search for the next goal

19′- Tahiti coach Rani BEA urges his team onwards as they break forward

20′- We have less than 53 seconds left in the first half….

20′- A free-kick from Louis DOMINQUE is deflected and whipped across goal with TALKANAMAL missing at the far post

20′- 12 seconds left….Tahiti corner….

20′- Shot by Usiera PUKOKI is saved brilliantly by Chikau MANSALE!

HALFTIME: VAN 1 TAH 1

21′- Tahiti win a free kick but MAIHURI fires it straight into the wall

21′- Vanuatu break qucikly with Derek MALAS but he fires his shot high over DAVIO’s crossbar!

22′- Rehia DAVIO saves a Terry QUARE thunderbolt long range effort

22′- Jimmy RIARIA makes a solid tackle on Jack Vira ALA and wins the kick-in for Tahiti

22′- Tahiti open Vanuatu wide but can’t score as Chikau MANSALE makes a match saving block!

23′- What Tahiti lack in technical ability they compensate for in heart – they do not know when to stop running and battling!

24′- Vanuatu cannot break this stout Tahitian defending – now Tahiti break fast…

24′- Terry QUARE is through but MAIHURI saves with a physical – but legal – tackle!

23′- Derek MALAS cannot find a way through a wall of Tahitian defenders

25′- Vanuatu look under intense pressure with Tahiti turning in another big hearted performance

27′- The text updater has just been hit by the ball after Vanuatu defend a Tahiti break!

27′- Jimmy RIARIA with the kick-in for Tahiti…he hits the ball long and Tahiti win another kick-in

29′- MANSALE pulls off save of the tournament to deny Tahiti – this match is pulsating with excitement!

31′- MANSALE pulls off another save as Tahiti make rapidfire substitutions their trademark in this tournament so far

31′- 9 minutes remaining and this is anyone’s match – Solomon Island and Vanuatu fans are watching on the edge of their seats!

31′- Its 1-1 here in Suva but in Port Vila Vanuatu and New Caledonia are locked at 0-0 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa/OFC Nations Cup 2008 clash…!

32′- Derek MALAS is subbed back into the match as Vanuatu go searching for the goal that will put pressure on Solomon Islands…

33′- Tahiti battle on gamely searching for an elusive winner

33′- Derek MALAS is on form for Vanuatu and their is plenty of time for both teams to make the next breakthrough

34′- Tahiti attack breaks down and MALAS breaks away only for QUARE to shoot at DAVIO who hits the ball over the bar with his knee

34′- Romeo PATIRA shoots wide on the break!

34′- Now QUARE fires over the crossbar from close range for Vanuatu!

34′- MANSALE and DAVIO are candidates for the two best goalkeepers at this tournament DOMINIQUE shoots but Usiera PUKOKI blocks!

36′- FREE KICK to Tahiti and Romeo PATIRA to take it…Jimmy RIARIA shoots and gets a deflection for a corner but Vanuatu break through Fedy VAVA…

37′- Shot for VAVA but DAVIO saves…!

37′- If it stays the same Solomon Islands will just need to beat Tuvalu to qualify for Brazil…if Vanuatu get a goal and win this match then Solomon Islands will need to win by 13 goals

37′- Vanuatu has called a time out

37′- 2 minutes and 31 seconds remain in this match – it is delicately poised…!

37′- Tahiti miss a three on one as MANSALE saves! Sensational save! What excitement! As Vanuatu break DAVIO saves for Tahiti!

39′- Freekick to Tahiti has Vanuatu’s hopes disappeared for qualification for this tournament

40′- We have 58 seconds left to play in this cauldron of a match

40′- RED CARD Ben EDWARD has been sent off for Vanuatu and Vanuatu’s hopes take a nosedive!

40′- GOAL! MATANA BEA SCORES FOR TAHITI AND ITS 2-1 FOR TAHITI!!!!!!!!!

FULLTIME – The Solomon Islands fans have erupted in delight as have the Tahitian players who now perform a haka to a rapturous applause.

Fans around the stadium chant, “GO TAHITI GO! GO TAHITI GO! GO SOLO GO! GO SOLO GO!”

Solomon Islands now need to beat Tuvalu to qualify for the FIFA FUTSAL WORLD CUP – BRAZIL 2008

Vanuatu leave the arena in tears after a pulsating effort.

Source : Oceania Football Confederation
Published : 14/6/2008