National U-17 soccer team kick off their campaign at the OFC U-17 championship with a huge goal difference, thrashing Tonga 10-1 at Pago park stadium in American Samoa on Wednesday.
But it was Tonga who scores first with a shocking goal in 14 minutes when their striker Soakai Vea goes around Solomon Islands goal keeper Oxson Buka and launched the ball into the net.
Luckily Solomon Islands with the leadership of captain Junior Hou quickly recovered it with an equalizer five minutes later then straight after Larry Zama added the second goal with a shot from inside the box.
Tonga almost equalizes it when they were awarded a free kick but their shot was well saved by Buka.
Solomon Islands with their two goals lead continue their challenge and manage to increase their lead before water break from Richard Raramo.
They almost added another from Gershom Totori shot but it went directly into the Tegan’s goal keeper Mahe Malafu arms.
Before half time Tonga was pressured by Solomon Islands which forced Sateki Matakaiongo and Sefana Paongo received the first two yellow cards of the game.
Solomon Islands was awarded a clear chance to increase their goal when they awarded a penalty shoot from Hou but his shot was perfectly save by Tonga goal keeper to held the first half 3-1.
In the second spell Solomon Islands picked up the first chance with a free kick from Kaliz Atu but his shot missed the target.
Despite unlucky shots they continue search for goal and it was paid off in 53 minutes when Larry Zama converted the ball into the net from a great pass from John Oge.
After their 4-1 led Solomon Islands continue to flood Tonga goal mouth with goals after goals to 10 goals from Junior Hou, Richard Raramo, Kaliz Atu, Larry Zama and Hendrick Jirah.
The win was a positive start for the boys as they prepare for their second match.
But despite the result, Jacob Moli remains unsatisfied about the first minutes of the game but the half-time speed has been well responded by the players.
‘’I am very happy about the performance but not the way we started the game. The players were a bit shaky the first five minutes and Tonga scored early.
‘’I told the players our game is about speed so I want to ball to move quicker. It is what we did in the second half and it pays off.
Timote Moleni is happy about the performance of his team despite the result.
’I am happy with performance of the team even if Solomon Islands scored 10 goals against us. I believe the players did their best,” he says.
Solomon Islands second match will be against Vanuatu.