Late goals help Navua to hold Nadi

THE Navua football side came from two goals down to hold Nadi to a 2-2 draw in a thrilling Digicel Premier League Round 6 fixture at the Uprising Sports Centre last Sunday.

Navua started the match with more attack and took control of the game as Nadi tried all its best to break the Navua defence but were not successful.

Goalkeeper Jayshneel Sivan made some brilliant saves in the match denying the visitors any chance to take up the lead in the first half.

Both teams went to the breather with goalless draw.

Nadi came out firing in the second half and kept the pressure on the Navua defence which saw an own goal conceded by midfielder Thomas Dunn in the 47th minute to give the Shalen Lal-coached aside the advantage.

Navua lost momentum in the game after the goal and 10 minutes later striker Napolioni Qasevakatini broke past the Navua defence and slotting the ball past the diving Sivan.

Navua coach Amit Prakash made some tactical changes in the team replacing Taniela Rakariva with veteran Apisai Smith and Alfred Ali replacing Netani Doli to get back the rhythm in the game.

The game plan worked out for Navua as Nadi defender Joshua Tawake was sent off for violent conduct in the 74th minute.

Navua got the advantage with one man up and kept pressuring which saw them getting the equaliser in the last six minutes of play.

Ali brought Navua back into the game in the 84th minute while Smith got the equaliser just before the full time. Navua manager Rohit Deo says the boys really played well.

“We have lost all the games against Nadi since coming in the premier division and this is the first time we have drawn against them which is a positive sign for the association,” said Deo.

“It became sweeter after coming down from 2-nil to score both goals in the six minutes.

“Slowly but surely getting there,” added Deo.

Navua is in seventh position with five points on the DPL points standing after a win and two draws and three losses.