The Extra Supermarket Labasa football team secured a solid victory, defeating Nasinu 2-0 in their Digicel Fiji Premier League (DFPL) match at Subrail Park on Saturday. This win allowed Labasa to hold onto the second position in the DFPL standings.
Striker Tigi Molea opened the scoring in the first half with a powerful shot from within the box, giving Labasa a 1-0 edge. Young player Jone Lalagavesi then doubled the lead in the 80th minute.
Labasa’s coach, Ravneel Pratap, expressed his satisfaction with the performance, highlighting the importance of the win in their pursuit of maintaining their rank. “The players understood the significance of this match, especially with the challenging away games coming up,” he noted.
This victory came after Labasa’s disappointing draws against Nadi and Tailevu/Naitasiri in their previous matches. They will next face Ba in Round 17 of the DFPL when they travel to Viti Levu.
Pratap remarked on the improved decision-making of his players, contrasting it with earlier matches where risky passes were common. “We avoided unnecessary passes at the back, and I’m pleased with the players’ judgment. The league title is within reach, and we’ve underperformed in some previous games. Maintaining a lead over other teams like Lautoka is crucial,” he stated.
Currently, Lautoka is in third place and is in a strong position to move up in the standings.
Pratap also took a moment to commend Lalagavesi for his debut goal for Labasa in the DFPL, noting its significance for the young player. “Scoring in his first home game and getting substantial playtime is a significant achievement for him,” he remarked.
The results from the day included Labasa 2-0 Nasinu, Tailevu/Naitasiri 1-2 Navua, Suva 4-0 Nadroga, Ba 1-0 Nadi, and Rewa 2-0 Lautoka.