GOOOALLLL!!! Tahiti go mental despite 6-1 Confederations Cup thumping to Nigeria

Tuesday 18 Jun 2013 10:58 am

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Magic of the cup: The Tahiti team mob goalscorer Tehua (Picture: Getty Images)

Pulling a goal back when you’re 3-0 in arrears is not usually cause for much celebration. But when minnows Tahiti bundled one in against Nigeria in the Confederations Cup last night in Brazil, their whole team, dug-out and governing body could not resist going completely bonkers.
Not without some reason, mind you – it was the Tahitians’ first goal in their debut at a major tournament.
Still, as goalscorer Jonathan Tehau reeled away in wild celebration to be mobbed by ecstatic team-mates, one could have easily believed that he bagged the winner in a crucial World Cup match.
And the Tahitian Football Federation – discarding the football association stereotype of blazer-donning bores – joined in the fun on Twitter.
‘GOAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAHITI!!!!!!! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!! #NeverGiveUp Tehau HERO!!!!!!,’ read their considered reaction to Tehua’s feat.

(Picture: Twitter/Tahiti Football Federation)

Tahiti’s hero Jonathan Tehau (Picture: Reuters)

And hailing the influence of the one professional among their ranks, Nancy striker Marama Vahirua, the TTF boys added: ‘VAHIRUA IS BETTER THAN MESSI #GoTahiti’
Defender Tehau, whose older brother Alvin played up front, would later become the first player to score at both ends in the competition’s history as Nigeria wound up resounding 6-1 winners in the Group B clash.
But coach Eddy Etaeta was still bursting with pride for of his side, who are ranked 138 in the world and qualified courtesy of winning the Oceania Nations Cup final against New Caledonia.
Etaeta said: ‘I was deeply moved, almost crying. We watch World Cups on TV. Today we were actors. Tahiti was watching. Our president sent us a message and suspended a cabinet meeting for it.’ ------------------------------  Metro sports