Ushant Lal from Tailevu Naitaisiri was named the man of the match during their opening game of the FMF Inter-District Championship premier division against Tavua, winning 2-0. Lal netted the first goal in a one-on-one situation against Tavua’s goalkeeper Nalesoni Ravato, giving Tailevu Naitaisiri a 1-0 lead at halftime.
“It was a great outing for the team, we played as brothers,” Lal stated. “Getting three points from our first game was important as it sets the pace for us. We had to score goals, and Tavua was a strong opponent.”
Tavua was reduced to nine players due to the dismissals of goalkeeper Josaia Ratu and Ratu Nalewadonu for unprofessional conduct in the first half. Although Tavua made a strong attempt to regroup in the second half, they struggled to find the back of the net against a resilient Tailevu Naitaisiri defense. The lead was extended when France Catarogo scored the second goal, beating Ravato again with a powerful shot.
Tavua’s captain, Manasa Nawaikula, expressed optimism about the team’s ability to recover in their next match, acknowledging that the defeat revealed some weaknesses. He remains hopeful as they prepare to face Savusavu on Thursday.
In a separate match in the premier category, Nasinu and Bua ended in a 2-all draw.