The Junior Bula Boys have opened their OFC U-19 Men’s Championship campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing Vanuatu 7-2 after a stunning second-half display in Samoa.

Fiji went into the break level at 1-1 after Vanuatu’s Roham Masaukalo opened the scoring before Abdul Khairati restored parity for the Junior Bula Boys.

Coach Marika Rodu introduced Jovesa Uqe at halftime, and the change sparked Fiji into life as Ibraheem Afzal put them ahead shortly after the restart.

Uqe added a third before Ryan Naresh took over, scoring a hat-trick between the 67th and 77th minutes to put Fiji firmly in control.

Vanuatu managed a late consolation goal, but Nicholas Franklin had the final say in the seventh minute of stoppage time to seal Fiji’s 7-2 victory.

The win gives the Junior Bula Boys a strong start to their campaign, with their attention now turning to their next Group B clash against New Zealand.