Ushant Lal from Tailevu Naitaisiri was named man of the match in their opening FMF Inter-District Championship premier division game against Tavua, which took place yesterday. Lal opened the scoring in their 2-0 victory over a depleted Tavua side, which finished the match with only nine players.
The talented Vunimono High School student outmaneuvered Tavua goalkeeper Nalesoni Ravato in a one-on-one situation to score the first goal, giving Tailevu Naitaisiri a 1-0 lead at halftime. “It was a great outing for the team, we played as brothers,” Lal remarked. He noted that securing three points from the first match was beneficial for setting a positive tone for the season and acknowledged that Tavua presented a strong challenge.
Tavua’s situation worsened when goalkeeper Josaia Ratu and Ratu Nalewadonu received red cards for unsportsmanlike behavior in the first half. Although Tavua attempted to stage a comeback in the second half, they were unable to score against a resilient opposition. The match concluded with France Catarogo extending Tailevu Naitaisiri’s lead by scoring their second goal with a powerful shot that again eluded Ravato.
In reaction to the loss, Tavua captain Manasa Nawaikula expressed confidence that the team would regroup for their upcoming match. He mentioned that the defeat highlighted their weaknesses, but the team remains optimistic as they prepare to face Savusavu on Thursday.
In another match in the premier category, Nasinu and Bua ended their game in a 2-all draw.