CAPTION: Nadi’s Rusiate Matarerega and Suva’s Semi Rokoqica tussle for possession at Prince Charles Park. Photo: SHALENDRA PRASAD.
By MARGARET NAQIRI & SHALENDRA PRASAD
Saturday, February 2, 2013. (6.48pm). Nadi has further extended its lead in the Fiji Sun / GP Batteries National League series after edging the capital side Suva 1-0 at Prince Charles Park today.
The side remains unbeaten after four wins and a draw in the league series so far and is sitting comfortably with 13 points in their bag. After edging Ba 1-0 at home last week, the jetsetters have today ended Suva’s unbeaten run.
Once again the hero of the young green machines was Rusiate Matarerega who scored the lone goal against Suva in the second spell as both sides were locked nil-all before the breather.
While Suva and Ba continue to trail closely behind Nadi in the league series, should both the sides win their scheduled games at Govind Park in Ba tomorrow, Nadi will still enjoy a one point clear lead in the series.
Nadi coach Kamal Swamy was impressed with his young brigade today but maintained that discipline is the key to success.
Making special reference to Rusiate Matarerega, Swamy said the young player has a long way to go and congratulated the boys and officials for a job well done.
Nadi managed to edge Suva without the services of three key players, Uraia Loki, Lekima Gonerau and Ajesh Narayan who were out of the squad after copping red and yellow cards respectively in previous matches.
Suva coach Gurjit Singh accepted defeat and congratulated Nadi for the win.
“My boys played well but the goal scored by Nadi made the difference,” Mr Singh said.
In the first match of the day, Navua thrashed Nadroga 5-2 in a great comeback effort as the side came from behind to win the match.
Nadroga was leading 2-1 minutes after half time but many errors and poor kicking skills together with an adamant Navua side turned the game around in their favour giving the stallions a shock of their lives.
With two back-to-back wins, Navua coach Manoj Kumar is now confident, the side will move up from the danger zone in the league ladder.
Both Tavua and Nadroga now share the bottom two spots in the league ladder.
Full Results
Full Time: Nadroga 2 Navua 5
Navua Caution: Apisai Smith (57’)
Nadroga Caution: Tomasi Tuicakau (26’)
Navua Goal: Netani Doli (29’),Vineet Chand (59’), Praneel Kumar (61’), (71’), Apisai Smith (82’)
Nadroga Goal: Tomasi Tuicakau (5’), John Rounds Junior (46’)
Full Time : Nadi 1 Suva 0
Nadi Caution: Amani Makoe (28’)
Suva Caution: Samuela Drudru (48’), Leone Damudamu (61’), Semi Rokoqica (76’)
Nadi Goal: Rusiate Matarereqa(47’)
Full Time: Rakiraki 0 Tailevu Naitasiri 5
Rakiraki Caution: Yogendran (14’), Namure Navualalevu (83’)
Tailevu Naitasiri Caution: Vishal Goundar (12’), Ricky Shankar (15’), Praney Reddy (31’), Kaliova Tivulu (42’), Nimilote Amini (68’), Apisai Voravora (90’)
Tailevu Naitasiri Goal: Jale Vota (29’), Minilote Amini (60’), Navendra Nadan (64’), Josaia Ratu (80’), Apete Koronivalu (84’)
Full Time: Vatukoula 0 Lami 2
Lami Caution: Mark Rokobuli (18’), Sailasa Vosaicake (28’), Shivneel Narayan (40’)
Lami Goal: JashneelPrasad (68’), Amit Singh (88’)
Vatukoula Caution: Mitendra Goundar (86’)
Amitesh Pal
Secretary – National League Board
Tomorrow’s Fixtures: – Sunday February 3, 2013
Super Premier – Govind Park, Ba
12noon Tavua U21-Ba U21
2pm Lautoka-Suva
4pm Tavua –Ba
Premier Division – Penang Sangam High, Rakiraki
1pm Vatukoula-Lami
3pm Rakiraki-Tailevu Naitasiri
For more pictures of today’s games, click here:-
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.474907155880055.95305.131483256889115&type=3
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.474922602545177.95309.131483256889115&type=3
Photos by MARGARET NAQIRI & SHALENDRA PRASAD