Extra Supermarket Labasa FC achieved a 3-1 victory over Flick Hygiene Suva FC in their Group A match at the Super Premier Division of the FMF IDC 2024, which took place yesterday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Despite heavy rain, both teams showcased impressive football, with effective passing throughout the match. Early on, Labasa, known as the Babasiga Lions, missed two prime scoring chances, thanks to standout goalkeeping from Suva’s Akuila Mateisuva, who made crucial saves from a corner kick and a direct shot.
In the 37th minute, Joeli Ranitu put Suva ahead with a header from a corner kick. Shortly after, Labasa was awarded a penalty when Suva’s Bruce Hughes fouled Lekima Gonerau in the box. Christopher Wasasala converted the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1 by halftime.
In the second half, Taniela Waqa gave Labasa a 2-1 lead with a goal. Labasa’s veteran goalkeeper, Simione Tamanisau, was instrumental in maintaining the lead, saving several attempts from the Suva side. Junior Fordney, a Solomon Islands import, secured the win for Labasa with a solo goal in the final moments, resulting in a 3-1 final score.
Labasa coach Ravneel Pratap emphasized the importance of the opening match and expressed satisfaction with the win. He commended his team’s resilience, noting their strong mentality after coming back from a goal down. “We discussed the importance of having a strong mentality to bounce back, and the boys demonstrated that today,” he stated.
Suva coach Babs Khan reflected on the match, acknowledging that it could have turned in their favor but emphasized the need to capitalize on scoring opportunities. “Labasa took their chances, while we missed some in the first half. Today just wasn’t our day,” he commented.