Ushant Lal from Tailevu Naitaisiri was named man of the match in the FMF Inter-District Championship premier division opener against Tavua, held yesterday. Lal netted the first goal in their 2-0 win over a depleted Tavua team, who played with just nine men for part of the match.
The Vunimono High School student successfully maneuvered past Tavua goalkeeper Nalesoni Ravato in a one-on-one situation, giving his team a 1-0 lead at halftime. Lal expressed pride in their 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 a blow when goalkeeper Josaia Ratu and Ratu Nalewadonu received red cards for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first half, leaving the team short-handed. Although Tavua attempted to rally in the second half, they failed to convert any opportunities against a resilient Tailevu Naitaisiri defense.
Tailevu Naitaisiri extended their lead when France Catarogo scored the second goal with a powerful shot past Ravato. Tavua’s captain, Manasa Nawaikula, remarked that the team is looking to recover in their next match, acknowledging that the loss highlighted their weaknesses while expressing optimism for their upcoming game against Savusavu on Thursday.
In another match in the premier category, Nasinu and Bua ended in a 2-2 draw.