Navua’s debut in the Pacific Community Cup was marred by a painful 2-1 defeat to the AuFFI All Stars at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Under the guidance of coach Saiyad Ali, the team faced an early setback when a miscommunication in defense led to an own goal by Kolinio Sivoki just five minutes into the match.
The AuFFI All Stars headed into halftime with a 1-0 lead. However, Navua returned fighting in the second half and earned a penalty in the dying moments of added time. Sivoki redeemed himself by converting the penalty to equalize the score. Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived. Immediately after the restart, AuFFI responded with a decisive goal from guest player Jalil Regague, sealing their victory right at the end of the match.
Looking ahead, Navua will seek to bounce back when they face host team Lautoka in their next outing at 8:15 PM tomorrow. Meanwhile, AuFFI will play against Manukau All Stars at 7 PM.
This outcome serves as a learning experience for Navua, highlighting the importance of communication and resilience in high-pressure situations. With their next match on the horizon, they have an opportunity to build on their performance, aiming for a stronger showing against Lautoka.
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