D-Day For Suva’s B.O.G Campaign
Bargain Box Ba and Farmtrac Tractors Labasa have recorded wins in the first day of the Punjas Battle of the Giants tournament at Churchill Park, Lautoka, on Friday.
The Babasiga Lions came from behind to beat Ram Cleaning Services/ Destiny Bar & Bistro Suva 2-1 in the Group A opener.
After a scoreless first half, Suva took the lead through a Samuela Drudru strike before Labasa replied with goals from Ratu Anare and Lekima Gonerau.
Suva captain, Akuila Mateisuva, warned his team-mates following the loss that they need to pull their socks up in today’s clash against All in One Builders Nadi or face an early exit.
Labasa needs a win against Cambridge Farms Limited/ Nabitu Farmers Nadroga this morning to boost their chances of qualifying to the semifinal.
In the other clash, Nadroga held Nadi to a scoreless draw.
BA ON TRACK
Ni-Vanuatu midfielder Claude Aru scored on his debut for Ba in their 2-0 win Aldex Trading Navua.
Ba opened the floodgates in the 22nd minute when robust striker Luke Savu tapped the ball in from close range.
With the early lead Ba piled on the pressure with Aru slamming in the second goal five minutes later.
Ba coach Imdad Ali said the 2-0 win is not a bad scoreline.
“I think he (Aru) is settling very well with the team. I hope that he will continue on his good form throughout the tournament. He’s a Vanuatu national rep. He knows what to do upfront,” he said.
“Navua is a good team with the players that they have at the moment. They played well but Ba stood out.
“I’ve a very young squad. They came out firing with a lot of enthusiasm.”
He said Blues has to lift their match performance against Naidu Holdings Limited (NZ) Lautoka tonight.
Navua coach Saiyad Ali said the team played well but Ba was a better team.
“Both the goals came from silly mistakes from our defenders. We came to defend very strongly but unfortunately we could not utilise our goal scoring chances.”
Meanwhile, Lautoka escaped with a 1-1 draw against Rewa in the final match of Day One. Fresh from the Oceania Champions League, the Delta Tigers took the lead in the 40th minute from a Abbu Zahid goal. Their joy was short-lived when lanky striker Saula Waqa rifled in Lautoka’s equaliser.
DAY ONE RESULTS
Suva 1-2 Labasa, Nadi 0-0 Nadroga, Ba 2-0 Navua, Lautoka 1-1 Rewa
TODAY’S FIXTURES
11am Nadroga v Labasa, 1pm Rewa v Navua, 3pm Nadi v Suva, 5pm Lautoka v Ba
HOW THEY STAND (DAY ONE)
| Group A | P | W | D | L | GD | Pt |
| Labasa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Nadi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nadroga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Suva | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Group B | P | W | D | L | GD | Pt |
| Ba | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Rewa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lautoka | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Navua | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
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