Ushant Lal from Tailevu Naitaisiri earned the title of man of the match during the FMF Inter-District Championship premier division opener against Tavua, held yesterday. Lal scored the first goal in Tailevu Naitaisiri’s 2-0 victory over a reduced Tavua team, which played with only nine players.
The talented Vunimono High School student successfully maneuvered past Tavua’s goalkeeper Nalesoni Ravato in a one-on-one situation, giving Tailevu Naitaisiri a 1-0 lead at halftime. Lal expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, “It was a great outing for the team; we played as brothers. Recording three points from the first game was good as it set the pace. We had to score goals, and Tavua was a good opponent.”
Tavua faced significant challenges after their goalkeeper Josaia Ratu and Ratu Nalewadonu received red cards for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first half. Despite a stronger second-half performance, Tavua was unable to secure a goal against the determined Tailevu Naitaisiri defense. The match concluded with France Catarogo scoring the second goal for Tailevu Naitaisiri, solidifying their win.
Tavua’s captain, Manasa Nawaikula, acknowledged the team’s need to improve but remained optimistic about their upcoming match against Savusavu on Thursday, stating that the defeat highlighted their weaknesses.
In another match in the premier category, Nasinu and Bua ended in a 2-2 draw.