National Hire Dreketi was the first team to bow out of the 2016 Courts Inter District Championship (IDC) after losing to SAF Communications Rewa 1-0 at the ANZ Stadium yesterday.

Dreketi put on a better performance than their previous game against Ba holding Rewa to a scoreless first half.

With numerous chances at goal, Dreketi had opportunities to take the lead but lack of finishing and accuracy let them down.

Iosefo Verevou came through for Rewa in injury time to score and give Rewa their first win in the tournament.

What happened:

Rewa got off to a good start immediately taking advantage of the gaps in the Dreketi defence.

Dreketi looked a lot sharper compared to their previous game against Ba. Dreketi had a real chance to take the lead with Abinesh Chand making an attempt at goal but he kicked it right into the hands of Rewa goalkeeper Epeli Loaniceva.

Halftime: Rewa 0-0 Dreketi

Both teams were fired up in the second spell searching for an opening as Dreketi tested the Rewa defence on numerous occasions but Loaniceva put his body on the line. Rewa’s Iosefo Verevou came through for his side in the dying minutes to end the game in Rewa’s favour, 1-0.

Big play

Dreketi goalkeeper Shaneel Naidu played a key role.

Star Turn

Iosefo Verevou scored to give Rewa their first win.

Comments

Dreketi coach Johan Leewai, “The boys played a good game, we were playing for pride and wouldn’t have minded a win or a draw but that wasn’t achieved. The tournament has been really great so far and now we will go back and focus on our first game in the Vodafone Premier League.”

Rewa coach Marika Rodu, “We lost four key players and that really affected us in this tournament, we were forced to field injured players and that was another blow to the side.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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