An injury time winner by veteran Samuela Kautoga saw leaders Rewa beat defending champions Lautoka 3-2 in a thrilling Digicel Fiji Premier League Round 7 encounter at Churchill Park tonight.
The win keeps the Delta Tigers unbeaten and on top of the standings.
As expected, both teams put on a fine display and kept the fans entertained on a cool Lautoka evening.
After missed chances on either end, midfielder Madhavan Goundar managed to open Extra Supermarket sponsored Rewa’s account in the 44th minute to give them a slender lead at the break.
The hosts entered the second stanza with a different approach and top marksman Sairusi Nalaubu leveled the scores as Rewa’s defence failed to clear the ball on time.
Play was stopped for about 4 minutes as Rewa goalkeeper Isikeli Sevanaia was flashed a lazer light from the grandstand, prompting the match officials to take prompt action and get the spectator involved removed from the venue.
Once the match resumed, Rewa launched a series of attacks and midfielder Josaia Sela neatly carved his way into the box and slammed the ball past goalkeeper Joela Biuvanua to put the visitors ahead in the 78th minute.
The Blues toiled hard for the equaliser and they were rewarded in the 85th minute as Muni Shivam Naidu sliced in a free-kick which had the Rewa defence and goalkeeper beaten.
And just when it seemed that the teams would share points from the fixture, a surge of attack deep in injury time found Kautoga in space and gave him the time and opportunity to find the winner.
Rewa now has 19 points after seven appearances while Lautoka has seven points and they remain seventh in the standing.
