The Extra Supermarket Labasa football team returned to form with a convincing 2-0 victory over Nasinu in their Digicel Fiji Premier League (DFPL) match at Subrail Park on Saturday. This win allowed Labasa to maintain their position in second place on the DFPL points table.
Labasa striker Tigi Molea opened the scoring during the first half with a powerful shot from within the 18-yard box, giving his team a 1-0 lead. In the 80th minute, young player Jone Lalagavesi extended Labasa’s advantage by adding a second goal.
Coach Ravneel Pratap expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing the significance of the victory to secure their standing in the league. He acknowledged the players’ awareness of the match’s importance, noting the challenges they would face in their upcoming away games.
Labasa had recently faced a disappointing 1-1 draw against Nadi and Tailevu/Naitasiri in their previous matches. They are now set to travel to Viti Levu to compete against Ba in Round 17 of the DFPL.
Pratap commended the improvement in his players’ decision-making, highlighting the reduction in risky passes compared to previous games. He remarked, “We didn’t play any risky passes at the back; I’m happy with the players’ decision making. It is all fighting for the league title now; we have let ourselves down in some of the previous games.”
Maintaining a cushion over competitors such as Lautoka, currently in third place, is deemed crucial by Pratap as they aim for the title.
Additionally, he took a moment to praise Lalagavesi for scoring in his debut match for Labasa in the DFPL, stating, “First game at home, getting a lot of game time and scoring a goal is a big break for the youngster.”
In other results, Tailevu/Naitasiri lost 1-2 to Navua, Suva defeated Nadroga 4-0, Ba edged Nadi 1-0, and Rewa overcame Lautoka with a score of 2-0.