29 May 2014

Sport: U20 World Cup berth on the line for Fiji, Vanuatu in 'virtual final'

11:48 am on 29 May 2014

Fiji coach Ravinesh Kumar says his players are treating Thursday's Oceania Under 20 football clash against Vanuatu as a virtual final.

The home side are a perfect three wins from three so far in Suva and victory against Vanuatu would be enough to secure top spot with one round remaining and guarantee their place at next year's Under 20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Both teams have yet to concede a goal in three matches but Ravinesh Kumar says they have a plan to break down the Vanuatu defence.

"This will decide the fate in the tournament as we are on nine points and a win will take them to the World Cup. [If] Vanuatu wins then they will be on the advantage side so the boys know the importance of the match, that this is the game that can take them through".

Elsewhere, Solomon Islands and American Samoa square off in the early match in a bottom of the table tussle.

Papua New Guinea are still a mathematical chance of finishing top but that hope could be over by the time they play New Caledonia in the evening match.