Suva Moves Up
Suva midfielder Filipe Baravilala (17) battles Ba defenders during the Vodafone Premier League clash at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, on September 6, 2020. Suva won 2-1 and claimed second spot in the VPL points table. They are now behind Rewa by just two points. Ba dropped to third spot.
The Suva football team have moved up to second place of the Vodafone Premier League points table after beating Ba 2-1 yesterday.
The Captial City side lived up to the expectation of their president Ritesh Pratap, as they target to win all their remaining matches.
What happened: Suva used the formation 4:4:2 to contain the fast Ba players.
The midfield combination of Kelvin Naidu, Ravinesh Karan Singh, Meli Codro and Filipe Baravilala exploited loopholes in the young Ba defence, time and again.
But it was poor finishing by twin strikers Christoper Wasasala and Sairusi Nalaubu that let them down.
Ba goalkeeper, 17-year-old Isikeli Seva Jnr stood his ground as he pulled off spectacular saves.
Suva took the lead in the 13th minute when Codro broke away from Ba’s left back Peceli Sukabula and his through pass caught the defenders napping as Nalaubu slammed in the opening goal.
A change of tactic by Ba in using the flanks to send in their crosses had the Suva defenders working overtime.
In the 45th minute, a 20-yard drive by Ba right midfielder Sumeet Goundar saw the ball sail past Suva goalkeeper Beniamino Mateinaqara to the back of the net. Halftime: Suva 1-1 Ba
The young Ba side varied their tactics in the second spell adopting the one-touch pattern, which gave Suva fans many anxious moments.
The four Suva defenders of Remueru Tekiata, Manasa Levaci, Laisenia Raura and Joeli Ranitu had to work hard in keeping them at bay.
In the 75th minute, Nalaubu sped down the right flank and slammed the ball past Seva for their second goal.
Ba kept trying with Goundar and Samuela Drudru missing easy scoring opportunities.
Suva sent in Iosefo Verevou for
Wasasala but he struggled because his knee injury kept bothering him. Comment: Ba team manager Ravneer Singh said: “Our defence missed the experience of Ilimotama Jese.
“And we are on a development phase and our young players did well.
“Now we are focused on our next game against Navua.”
Line-up Suva:
Beniamino Mateinaqara, Laisenia Raura, Manasa Levaci, Remueru Tekiate, Sairusi Nalaubu, Ravinesh Karan Singh, Kelvin Naidu, Meli Codro, Joeli Ranitu, Christopher Wasasala, Filipe Baravilala.
Ba: Isikeli Seva, Jonetani Newa, Kalaveti Sivoi, Mitieli Naiviro, Peceli Sukabula, Sumeet Goundar, Savenaca Nakalevu, Abbu Zahid, Malakai Tiwa, Darold Kakasi, Samuela Drudru.