Shock loss for Suva
Tailevu Naitasiri wins
The Tailevu Naitasiri football side fought tooth and nail to record its first win in the Digicel Fiji Premier League season downing Suva 2-1 at the Fiji FA Academy Ground in Vatuwaqa, Suva yesterday.
Led by an energetic Abhishek Deo from midfield, Tailevu Naitasiri had the better of the chances in the first spell.
Coach Priyant Mannu had a tough team talk at half-time as T/Naitasiri came out firing with waves of attack in the second spell.
The side was finally rewarded when replacement Prashant Chand’s pile driver from 30 yards out found the back of the net.
Just when it looked like Suva was slowly settling down, 18-year-old Ushant Lal got the second goal for T/Naitasiri from a counterattack.
Ravnesh Karan Singh beautifully floated in a cross for Merill Nand to pull back the score to 1-2.
Suva tried hard but failed to find the equaliser.
In other matches around the country yesterday, debutant Rahul Krishna was on target as his newfound club Navua beat Ba 2-nil. Ali Mekawir scored the second goal for Navua.
In Nadi, Junior Rocky scored three goals for the home side, but it wasn’t enough as Nadroga came back from 1-3 down at halftime to tie the match 3-all.
Rewa also secured all three points, defeating Nasinu 3-1. Rewa’s goals were scored by Tevita Waranivalu, Iosefo Verevou and Keni Cagi while Ryan Chandra scored the lone goal for Nasinu.
In the lone match played on Saturday, Labasa upset Lautoka 2-1 at Subrail Park.
❏ Teams
■ Tailevu Naitasiri: Sitiveni Matalaba, Rajneel Kumar, Sakiusa Saqiri, Abhishek Deo, Mosese Nabose, Carlos Liomasia, Geary Kubu, Turendran Kumar, Asaeli Tunidau, Samuela Nasava, Sikeli Tuiloma
■ Suva: Hasmukh Patel, Raneshwar Goundar, Meli Codro, Ramzan Khan, Dave Radrigai, Peniasi Rotidara, Ravnesh Karan Singh, Shivam Shandil, Waisake Navunigasau, Ajesh Chand, Neerav Goundar