Fiji beat Canada 29-16 at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday as they sighted a return to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1987.
The Pacific islanders moved into second place in Pool B behind Australia, piling the pressure onto Wales who they'll meet in a winner-takes-all clash in Nantes on Sept. 29 with the prize of a last eight place at stake.
Australia defeated Wales 32-20 on Saturday to virtually wrap up top spot in the group.
Fiji, who were cruising at 15-6 at the interval, also grabbed a crucial bonus point thanks to a last minute try from full-back Kameli Ratuvou, his second of the match, after Canada had lost the ball pushing for an unlikely victory themselves with the score at 22-16.
"We are happy with the win and the bonus point," Fiji skipper Moses Raulini said. "Canada made it tough for us. We made too many mistakes in the second half. We lost discipline and composure. We had them by the throat, all we had to do was choke them."
Morgan Williams, the Canada skipper, said his team were bitterly disappointed.
"We lost it, they didn't win it," Williams said. "We didn't really play in the first half and then we had to play catch-up. If you lose the ball to them, they make it very hard for you. Now we have to take long look at ourselves and pick it up for the next game [Japan on Sept 25]."
Canada, who had lost to Wales in their opener despite leading 17-9, needed to win to stay in contention for a last-eight place, a stage they haven't reached since 1991.
Fiji, for their part, had collected a bonus point in their 35-31 win over Japan.
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
RSS