Ushant Lal from Tailevu Naitaisiri was awarded the man of the match in their opening game of the FMF Inter-District Championship premier division against Tavua, which took place yesterday. Lal netted the first goal in the match, leading his team to a 2-0 victory over a depleted Tavua side that was reduced to nine players.
Lal, a student at Vunimono High School, managed to score by outmaneuvering Tavua goalkeeper Nalesoni Ravato in a one-on-one situation. Tailevu Naitaisiri went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. “It was a great outing for the team; we played as brothers,” Lal commented. He noted that starting the tournament with three points was beneficial for setting the right pace and emphasized that scoring was crucial against a solid Tavua team.
Tavua’s struggle intensified when they lost two players to red cards for unsporting behavior in the first half: goalkeeper Josaia Ratu and Ratu Nalewadonu. Although Tavua put forth a stronger effort in the second half, they were unable to convert any chances as Tailevu Naitaisiri defended resolutely. The victory was sealed when France Catarogo scored the second goal for Tailevu Naitaisiri, sending a powerful shot past Ravato.
Following the match, Tavua captain Manasa Nawaikula expressed hope for a rebound in their upcoming game. He acknowledged that the defeat highlighted their weaknesses but maintained an optimistic outlook for their next encounter against Savusavu on Thursday. In another match within the premier category, Nasinu and Bua concluded their game in a 2-2 draw.