Lautoka, the champions of the Battle of the Giants, secured a convincing 4-2 victory against Labasa during round 13 of the Digicel Fiji Premier League at Churchill Park yesterday.
The Blues took the lead in the 31st minute after a cross from Sairusi Naulubu deflected off Labasa’s Iliesa Lino, resulting in an own goal. While both teams created several scoring chances in the first half, they were unable to convert them into goals.
In the second half, Lautoka, backed by their home crowd, demonstrated a more cohesive and structured approach to their play. Shiva Pillay increased the lead to 2-0 in the 52nd minute, followed by a penalty goal from star striker Saula Waqa, extending the advantage to 3-0.
Labasa threatened to mount a late comeback after a free kick was narrowly saved by the Lautoka goalkeeper. Taniela Waqa netted a goal for Labasa, momentarily giving them hope, but Naulubu responded quickly to extend Lautoka’s lead to 4-1 with a brilliant individual effort.
In the dying moments of the match, Labasa’s Christopher Wasasala scored a goal during injury time. Wasasala also had an opportunity to add another goal from a penalty but ultimately missed the chance.
Lautoka’s team director, Vipul Sharma, emphasized their strategic preparation, which was reflected in the match outcome. He noted the need to strengthen their defense despite their scoring successes.
Sharma acknowledged Labasa’s quality as a team, stating they provided a significant challenge. Labasa’s coach, Ravneel Pratap, expressed disappointment over the loss, stating their chances of closing the gap in the DFPL were diminishing. He admitted that his team did not adhere to their game plan and recognized the need for improvement in decision-making and execution moving forward.