Delta Tigers book Champions League spot
AFTER finishing at the bottom of their pool in this year’s Fiji FACT, the Rewa football team defied criticism and proved critics wrong by thrashing Lautoka 4-0 to book a spot in the OFC league competition.
The Tigers will rub shoulders with the best sides in the region. Clubs from Vanuatu, the Solomons, Tahiti, New Zealand, PNG and New Caledonia will be no push over and Rewa will have to work hard to overcome the sides.
Blues hold Tigers at Churchill Park
The first OFC Champions League playoff between Lautoka and Rewa on Friday evening at Churchill Park ended in a 1-1 draw. Both sides entertained football fans with their skills and showed their class in a high-intensity game.
Rewa attacked and pressured the hosts, but failed to hit the mark.
Once the Blues settled into the match, they held onto possession and looked dangerous.
They created a few scoring chances, but could not break Rewa’s defence and scores remained nil-all until the 55th minute of play when Rewa’s Rusiate Matererega broke the deadlock with a powerful shot which sailed past Lautoka goalie.
The sizzler, however, did not deter the hosts as they equalized through prolific striker Sairusi Nalaubu.
The goal lit up Churchill Park and fans erupted with cheers.
Fireworks continued on and off the field, but both sides failed to find the winning goal and they ended up ended up sharing the points.
Tigers teach Blues valuable lessons
In the return match on Sunday at the ANZ Stadium, the Blues were dismantled by a fired up Rewa side which was playing in honour of Setareki Hughes.
From the start of the contest, the Tigers bombarded the Lautoka goal mouth and their PNG import worked over time to make some important saves.
Lautoka had four overseas players in the squad for the national playoff, but the Glamada-sponsored Rewa team thrashed them 4-0 to book its place in the last eight of the OFC Champions League.
Goals from Rusiate Matarerega and Alick Worworbu gave Rewa a comfortable lead at the break.
Matarerega then got his second goal after the break before Samuela Nabenia sealed the win.
Lautoka defender Kolinio Sivoki and Rewa’s Bruce Hughes were sent off in the dying stages of the tough match for throwing punches, but the Tigers did enough to seal the deal and qualify for the OFC Champions League to be played in Auckland.
DPL resumes this weekend
The Digicel Premier League resumes this weekend with a double header at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Ba faces Rewa and Lautoka battles Suva. Tailevu Naitasiri takes on Nadi at Ratu Cakobau Park, while Nadro hosts Navua at Lawaqa Park.
On Saturday, Labasa hosts Nasinu at Subrail Park.
Best wishes to the sides!