The Extra Supermarket Labasa football team returned to form with a 2-0 victory over Nasinu in their Digicel Fiji Premier League match at Subrail Park on Saturday. This win secured three essential points, allowing Labasa to maintain their position in second place on the DFPL standings.
Labasa striker Tigi Molea opened the scoring in the first half with a powerful shot from inside the penalty area, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Young talent Jone Lalagavesi then doubled the score in the 80th minute.
Labasa’s coach, Ravneel Pratap, expressed his satisfaction with the result, highlighting the importance of securing the second position on the points table. He acknowledged the significance of the upcoming away games, stating that the players understood the need for a strong performance.
Following a frustrating 1-1 draw with Nadi and Tailevu/Naitasiri in their previous matches, Labasa is preparing to face Ba in Round 17 of the DFPL, traveling to Viti Levu for the match. Pratap noted that the players’ decision-making had markedly improved, reducing risky passes that had plagued them in earlier games.
“It is all about fighting for the league title now; we have let ourselves down in some previous encounters. Maintaining a lead over teams like Lautoka is crucial,” Pratap remarked.
Lautoka, currently third in the standings, is in a strong position to move up as the league progresses. Pratap also took a moment to commend Lalagavesi for scoring in his debut match for Labasa in the DFPL, recognizing the significance of the achievement for the young player.
In other match results, Labasa defeated Nasinu 2-0, Tailevu/Naitasiri lost 1-2 to Navua, Suva claimed a 4-0 victory against Nadroga, Ba edged past Nadi 1-0, and Rewa triumphed over Lautoka with a score of 2-0.