Fightback Blues In Final

Defending champion Lautoka booked their spot in the grand final of the 2018 Courts Inter-District Championship after a thrilling comeback in the second half to beat Jack’s Nadi 3-1 last night.
Lautoka’s key man Benjamin Totori who was instrumental for the sugar city side told SUNsports their aim is to defend the title.
“Our goal was to win the semifinal as we really want to defend our title,” the Solomon Islands football captain said.
“We missed out on the Vodafone Fiji FACT and INKK Mobile Battle of the Giants tournament.
“When we were down by a goal in the first half I told the boys to be positive because if we have a positive mindset, we will score,” Totori said.
The Men-In-Blue lifted the intensity in the second half as Nadi lost their key man and goal scorer Rusiate Matererega due to injury.
Matererega scored Nadi’s goal in the first half which gave them a 1-0 lead at halftime. His absence was felt in the second half as Lautoka disrupted all their plans and shut them out.
Lautoka fought hard and were rewarded with two goals within five minutes an own goal and a strike by Jone Vesikula.
They continued the momentum and Totori nailed the final goal after his kick sailed past goalkeeper Vereti Dickson for the 3-1 victory.
Big play: Nadi played an attacking game in the first half and came close to scoring a number of times which could have turned the game around.
Star turn; Lautoka turned tables around in the second half with good tactical play.
Comments: Totori said: “Our message was to get out there and give everything.”
Nadi head coach Babs Khan said; “We started well but when we lost Rusi, things fell apart for us.”
– Edited by Osea Bola
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