THE Vodafone Fiji Futsal team has been thrashed by Tahiti in their opening match at the OFC Futsal Nations Cup 2019 tournament in New Caledonia.
It took a goalkeeping mistake by Fiji’s Emori Ragata to offer the first real scoring chance which was duly accepted by Akareva Riaria who drove the ball into the roof of the net giving the French Polynesians the lead.
Olivier Hirihiri grabbed another with a cool finish before Tehaunui Barsinas made it 4-nil with less than three minutes left on the clock in the opening half.
Akareva Riaria provided the assist to skipper Steeve Wong’s powerful drive for the next Tahitian goal then Wong turned provider setting up Antoine Tave to make it 8-nil.
Fiji coach Mira Sahib was left to rue his side’s slow start to the match from which they have never managed to recover.
Fiji next plays Tonga today.
