Solomon Islands lost 7-4 to defending champions Tahiti at Aorai Tini Hau in Pirae, with Tahiti booking their place in the OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup 2026 final. New Caledonia beat Vanuatu 7-5.
A player in yellow and green competes for the ball with an opponent in grey and red at the OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup 2026 at Aorai Tini Hau, Pirae.
Source: OFC Media via Phototek
Solomon Islands lost 7-4 to defending champions Tahiti at Aorai Tini Hau in Pirae, a result that sent the Tiki Toa into the final of the OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup 2026.
Both sides went into the match unbeaten after winning their opening games, with top spot in the table and a place in the final at stake.
Tahiti captain Heimanu Taiarui opened the scoring inside the first minute with a volley. Tahiti were briefly reduced to four players and held out under pressure before Roy Mafane levelled for the Bilikiki with a direct free kick into the top right corner.
Adrian Mara then put Solomon Islands ahead, finding space on the left before firing home, but Tahiti replied through 2024 Golden Boot winner Heirauarii Salem, who took advantage of a mistake by Erick Wanega for his eighth goal of the tournament.
The second period swung again. Albert Bobby scored his first goal of the tournament for Solomon Islands before Ro'onui Tinirauarii struck twice in quick succession to restore Tahiti's lead.
Trailing 5-3 at the final break, Solomon Islands kept in touch when Wanega converted a penalty into the bottom left corner. Tinirauarii completed his hat-trick after winning possession from Mara, and Tahiti added a seventh in the closing stages with a header from a throw-in.
Solomon Islands: 4 (Roy MAFANE 3', Adrian MARA 12', Albert BOBBY 18', Erick WANEGA 26')
Tahiti: 7 (Heimanu TAIARUI 1', Heirauarii SALEM 13', Heimanu TAIARUI 14', Ro'onui TINIRAUARII 15', 15', 30', Tearii LABASTE 34')
In the day's other match, New Caledonia beat Vanuatu 7-5 to keep their own hopes of reaching the final alive. Both teams were looking for a first win, with the loser left to play for third place.
Sandy Mesau opened the scoring for Vanuatu in the first period before Germain Haewegene struck three times in quick succession to put New Caledonia 3-1 ahead at the first break.
Renaldo Teiva Nonmeu came off the bench to extend the lead and Makalu\u00eb Xowi made it 5-1 with a strike into the bottom left corner. Vanuatu replied through a header from Kaven Charley and a rebound finished by Alick August to trail 5-3 at the end of the second period.
August, the captain, scored twice in the final period to level the match at 5-5. Xowi then restored New Caledonia's lead with a low direct free kick and Haewegene scored his fourth of the match.
New Caledonia: 7 (Germain HAEWEGENE 8', 8', 9', 33', Renaldo TEIVA NONMEU 14', Makalu\u00eb XOWI 17', 32')
Vanuatu: 5 (Sandy MESAU 5', Kaven CHARLEY 20', Alick AUGUST 21', 27', 32')
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