The Fiji soccer team made a good start in their defense of the Gold Medal in the Pacific Games soccer competition.

The Peni Finau led side thrashed Tuvalu in their opening pool match by 16-nil. Ba striker, Osea Vakatalesau scored 6 goals while Roy Krishna and Pita Rabo got their hat-tricks with other goals coming from Malakai Tiwa, Peni Finau and Pita Bolatoga.

Fiji's next pool match will be against Cook Islands tomorrow at 5pm. In the other men's division games, Solomons beat American Samoa 12-1, Vanuatu defeated Samoa 4-0 while New Caledonia upset Tahiti with a 1-0 win.

Meanwhile, in the women's division Fiji also won their opening pool match beating Cook Islands 4-1 and favourites Papua New Guinea defeated American Samoa 6-0.

Today is rest day in Samoa and the Games proper will begin tomorrow with 15 more sports.