Victoria Fatiaki has been awarded the player of the match as Cook Islands footballer against Solomon Islands at the OFC U19 Women’s Championship 2023 in Suva, Fiji.

This comes after Cook Islands defeated the Solomon Islands 1-0 in the final Group C match at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Suva, Fiji.

Fatiaki said playing against the Solomon Islands definitely wasn’t an easy game.

“They were really physical and quick, I would rate them a solid 9/10,” she said.

She said: “I actually wasn’t expecting the player of the match because every individual in my team as well as the Solomon Islands team played so well.”

Cook Islands defeated the Solomon Islands 1-0 at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Suva, Fiji. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek / 23062801

Fatiaki said she has been playing football since she was young and started off as a striker.

As she grew, she was able to play and learn different positions and now she is playing left back/winger.

This is the second time Fatiaki is representing Cook Islands.

She was given the opportunity to be part of the women's football in 2022 and now she is with the U19s women’s.

“I’m enjoying my experience here in Fiji so far with my team and I’m learning a lot from the coaches and management as days go by.”

She said the team is currently recovering from their game.

She said: “Yes we may have gotten that dub last night but something Coach Tuka Tisam would say to them is, your Cinderella effect stops at midnight” meaning celebration time is over, time to reset and focus on our next game.”

She added that her mind-set was more focused on getting that dub which we did and I’m grateful for that but winning that reward was a bonus and I wouldn’t have got it if it weren’t for my team.

Meanwhile, in a match spanning more than 120 minutes due to a first half power cut at the HFC Bank Stadium, which halted play for 30 minutes, the Cook Islands had on balance the better chances and deserved the win.

15 minutes into the first half the lights went out. When play eventually resumed neither side really settled into any rhythm and both goalkeepers were kept relatively quiet.

Things livened up after the break however when from a 49th minute corner Te Upoko Tuariki rose high and glanced a header into the corner of the Solomon Islands net.

However, chances were few and far between.

Cook Islands were sound defensively and have yet to concede a goal in two games at the tournament.

Naomi Siriongo made a committed save in the Solomon Islands goal to deny Tuariki in the 58th minute and although Salome Masi had a powerful right foot effort from an acute angle to go across the goal with 25 minutes remaining, the Solomon Islands couldn’t test Kimberly Uini in the Cook Islands goal.

The Cook Islands victory sees Tuka Tisam’s side top Group C ahead of the Solomon Islands and Tahiti with all three teams progressing to the quarterfinals.

OFC / CIFA Media