The Extra Supermarket Labasa football team has returned to form with a 2-0 victory over Nasinu in their Digicel Fiji Premier League (DFPL) match held at Subrail Park on Saturday. This win solidified Labasa’s position in second place on the DFPL points table.
Labasa’s striker Tigi Molea opened the scoring in the first half with a powerful shot from inside the 18-yard box, giving his team a 1-0 advantage. Young talent Jone Lalagavesi added to the lead in the 80th minute, securing the win for Labasa.
Coach Ravneel Pratap expressed his satisfaction with the result, emphasizing the importance of staying in second place as they face tough away matches in the coming weeks. “The players understood the significance of this game since the next few will be challenging,” he remarked.
Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against both Nadi and Tailevu/Naitasiri in their previous matches, Labasa is now set to travel to Viti Levu to compete against Ba in Round 17 of the DFPL. Pratap noted that the decision-making of his players had improved compared to earlier games, where questionable passing was a concern.
“We managed to avoid risky passes at the back, and I’m pleased with the players’ judgment. It’s all about competing for the league title now, and we’ve underperformed in some recent matches. Maintaining a lead over teams like Lautoka is crucial,” Pratap stated.
Lautoka is in third place on the points table and has the potential to rise to second position. Pratap also took a moment to congratulate Lalagavesi for scoring in his debut match for Labasa in the DFPL. “Scoring during your first game at home after getting significant playing time is a major accomplishment for the young player,” he added.
In other results from the league, Labasa defeated Nasinu 2-0, Tailevu/Naitasiri lost to Navua 2-1, Suva triumphed over Nadroga 4-0, Ba edged past Nadi 1-0, and Rewa defeated Lautoka 2-0.