Lanky Ba striker Saula Waqa scored a brace of goals as they beat an indiscipline Rewa side 4-2 at Govind Park, Ba yesterday.

Rewa were reduced to nine players in the last quarter after Mitieli Namuka and Amani Makoe were given the marching orders by referee Sunil Narayan.

The visitors gave the first half away and while they kept Ba scoreless in the second spell, they missed several opportunities to score in the second half.

What happened: Striker Samuela Nabenia opened the scoring for Ba in the opening minutes with a goal created down the right flank.

With the 1-0 lead, Ba continued to mount the pressure on the Rewa goalmouth and minutes later, Waqa scored his first with Ba midfield led by Malakai Tiwa providing the opening for the two- goal hero.

Rewa narrowed the gap through a goal to Posiano Kalisto that left Ba keeper Misaele Naruma no chance at all, to bring the score 2-1.

Ten minutes before the break, Waqa was put in the clear and he outpaced the Rewa defence to slip the ball past Simione Tamanisau to stretch Ba’s lead to 3-1.

Minutes later Nabenia was infringed in the box by Kalisto while trying to slam the ball home and Narayan was on hand to award the penalty which Tiwa comfortably slotted in to give Ba the 4-1 lead at halftime.

Halftime: Ba 4-1 Rewa

In the first minute after the break, Rewa striker Epeli Saukuru was also obstructed in the Ba box which national representative Tevita Waqanivalu had no problems in scoring to bring the score to 4-2.

The second half was riddled with off-the-ball play and this resulted in Namuka being sent off and then Makoe following minutes later.

Big play: Waqa’s scorching runs and aggressiveness was a big plus for the Ba side.

Comments: Ba coach Imdad Ali said: “Ba deserved to win and players played according to the plan.”

Rewa coach Marika Rodu said: “We played badly in the first spell but regrouped and kept Ba scoreless in the second half. We created some chances but did not capitalise on it.”

Edited by Osea Bola

charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj