Etonia Dogalau’s outstanding performance, featuring two critical goals, propelled Ba to a stunning 2-1 victory over the reigning champions Suva in their final group match of the Extra Supermarket Futsal Inter-District Championship held at the Vodafone Arena. This victory secured Ba a spot in the semifinals.
Despite expectations that Suva would secure their third win of the tournament after previous victories over Nasinu and Savusavu, Ba demonstrated their competitive spirit early in the match. Dogalau capitalized on a lapse in Suva’s defense just two minutes into the game, scoring the first goal. His second goal, arguably a contender for the tournament’s best, came just before halftime, as he expertly headed in a floated clearance from Ba’s captain, Ravinesh Anand Singh.
As the game progressed into the second half, Suva intensified their offensive efforts led by Nikil Chand, eventually narrowing Ba’s lead with a goal from Justin Kumar less than ten minutes before the final whistle. In a desperate attempt to equalize, Suva launched several attacks, but they encountered a solid defensive performance from Ba, particularly from Manasa Nawakula and Penisoni Tirau.
In a final push, Suva sent all five players forward in the last minutes but were thwarted repeatedly by Ba’s goalkeeper Singh, securing Ba’s victory and sending them through to the semifinals. The tournament sees Ba finishing second in Group B, while Suva takes the top position.
This match highlighted not only the skill and resilience of Ba but also the intense competition present in the championship, creating an exciting atmosphere for the upcoming semifinal rounds. The spirit displayed by both teams bodes well for the future of futsal in the region, demonstrating the potential for thrilling matches ahead.
Leave a comment