3 Red Cards, Blues Bow out of Champions League

Three red cards saw Lautoka FC played with 8-men as they bombed out of the OFC Champions League at Churchill Park, Lautoka yesterday. Needing to win by two clear goals against Tahiti’s AS Central Sport to book a quarterfinal spot, all came to not when indiscipline crept into their game to the disappointment of their fans. The clash ended in a 2-2 draw. “We wanted to qualify, but unfortunately the two red cards in the first half let us down,” a disappointed Lautoka FC coach Kamal Swamy told SUNsports.

“Still with nine players we were applying pressure. At the end we had eight men, we had a draw. It’s a good result, but it would have been better if we would have won the game.”

Swamy said the focus now is on the Vodafone Premier League. “We’ve to focus on the VPL and at the same time see where we had made mistakes and to improve on them,” he said.

“The national league competition is very competitive, so we have to prepare well.

“The player did their best and their families sacrificed a lot for them. Also the officials and the executives did a lot as well.”

Swamy said despite all the criticisms against them they have to keep working hard to become a better side.

He added that it was hard to play with nine-men at this level of football in the first half and eight-men in the second half.

“Our defence was good, but it was because of some basic and individual errors that let us down. “I’m glad that some of the new boys played well and that is the way we move forward.”

Bong Kalo and Dave Radrigai were shown the red card in the first half while Afraz Ali received his marching order in the second half. AS Central Sport striker Cesar Castillo scored the first goal in the 12th minute

Peter Babka of AS Central Sport scored an own goal in the 19th minute.

The hosts took the lead in the 39th minute through a Benjamin Totori strike. Manuarii Hauata slotted in the equaliser in the 60th minute.