Lions finish strong after slow start
THE Labasa football side came from two goals down to beat Ba 4-3 in the first semi-final of the 2022 Digicel Fiji FACT at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday.
Ba took an early lead in the eighth minute when a free kick from Jr Narend Rao was dummied by Saula Waqa which Labasa stopper Atunaisa Naucukidi failed to control.
Waqa was back in the spotlight when he scored Ba’s second seven minutes later.
Labasa slowly came back into the match as Siotame Kubu scored but it was cancelled out for a foul which was picked up by referee Veer Singh.
Kubu got Labasa back into the game in the 18th minute when his deflected shot went in from a corner kick.
Ba led 2-1 at half-time. Labasa coach Ravneel Pratap would have had a memorable halftime talk which saw his side come out firing in the second spell.
Two goals from Christopher
Wasasala in eight second half minutes saw Labasa take a 3-2 lead.
Veteran Taniela Waqa sealed the win in the 74th minute when he placed in Labasa’s fourth goal.
Ba had a consolation when Kini Madigi scored in the 95th minute.
Labasa coach Ravneel Pratap was a proud coach after the win.
“Ba was a tough team and we knew they would come out strong. We had to counter them and play football according to what they threw at us,” Pratap said.
“Ba played a good game and I also thank my boys for putting up hats off performance. We will go in the final as underdogs and put up a good performance against whichever team we meet in the final.”
Teams
Atunaisa Naucukidi, Iliesa Lino, Eparama Moraica, Sitiveni Rakai, Christopher Wasasala, Ilisoni Lolaivalu, Ratu Anare, Akeimi Ralulu, Lekima Gonerau, Siotame Kubu, Taniela Waqa.
Sanaila Waqanicakau, Manasa Nawakula, Aakash Sharma, Nabil Begg, Ilimotama Jese, Peceli Sukabula, Emosi Navaba, Saula Waqa, Narend Rao, Etonia Dogelau, Rahul Naresh.