Ushant Lal from Tailevu Naitaisiri earned the title of man of the match during the FMF Inter-District Championship premier division opener against Tavua, which took place yesterday. Lal netted the first goal in Tailevu Naitaisiri’s 2-0 victory over a depleted Tavua team, which finished the match with only nine players.
The Vunimono High School student showcased his skills by outmaneuvering Tavua goalkeeper Nalesoni Ravato in a one-on-one situation, leading the game 1-0 at halftime. “It was a great outing for the team, we played as brothers,” Lal commented. He expressed satisfaction with securing three points from their first game, which he believes established a positive momentum. “Scoring goals was crucial, and Tavua proved to be a strong opponent.”
Tavua faced challenges early in the match, with goalkeeper Josaia Ratu and player Ratu Nalewadonu both receiving red cards in the first half. Despite their efforts in the second half, they were unable to find the net against a resilient Tailevu Naitaisiri side. France Catarogo sealed the victory with a second goal, firing a shot past Ravato.
Tavua’s captain, Manasa Nawaikula, acknowledged the team’s need to improve and is hopeful they will bounce back in their next match against Savusavu on Thursday. He noted that the loss highlighted certain weaknesses within the team.
In a separate match in the premier category, Nasinu and Bua played to a thrilling 2-2 draw.