Fiji Kulas fight back in Hong Kong loss

Fiji's national women's football team, the Kulas, suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against hosts Hong Kong in the first of two FIFA Women's International Friendlies. Hong Kong had established a commanding 3-0 lead before the Fijian side staged a spirited comeback in the latter stages of the match.

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The game was exactly what we wanted it to be. A challenging test outside of OFC competition.

Narieta Leba scored Fiji's first goal, narrowing the deficit, and Elesi Tabunase added a second, setting up a tense finish. Despite their late surge, the Kulas were unable to find the equalizer, ultimately falling short.

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We started nervously, not knowing what to expect, but developed confidence as the game progressed. That’s why we need exposure at this level.

Despite the loss, coach Nicola Demaine expressed encouragement, viewing the match as a valuable learning experience against strong opposition outside the Oceania region. "The game was exactly what we wanted it to be. A challenging test outside of OFC competition," Demaine stated. She noted the team started nervously but grew in confidence, highlighting the need for such high-level exposure.

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Obviously, we aren’t happy about conceding three goals, but coming back from 3-0 down to make it 3-2 showed great resilience.

Demaine praised the team's resilience, particularly their ability to fight back from a three-goal deficit. "Obviously, we aren’t happy about conceding three goals, but coming back from 3-0 down to make it 3-2 showed great resilience," she said. The match also allowed Fiji to utilize all 18 available players under new FIFA substitution rules, providing valuable game time, including a senior international debut for Ulamila Rasovasova. Demaine is confident the lessons learned will lead to a more consistent performance in the second friendly.

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Thanks to the new FIFA rules, we were able to use 18 players in the match, giving valuable experience to the squad, including a senior debut for Ulamila Rasovasova.