Winning start for FACT champions

Defending champions Suva kicked off their 2022 Digicel Fiji FACT campaign with a 1-0 win over Ba at the ANZ Stadium today.

The match started off on a fast pace with both sides launching early attacks on goal.

Ba's Saula Waqa and Etonia Dogalau missed two good sitters in front of the goalmouth while Suva's Azariah Soromon, Malakai Rakula and Mohammed Ramzan threatened with some good attempts.

Suva pulled out Samuela Navoce and replaced him with Samuela Drudru in the 30th minute to add more experience to their attack.

Young midfielder Nabil Begg almost got the opener for the Men in Black in the 36th minute as he saw goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva off his line and chipped the ball over, but it went a couple of inches above the uprights.

A serious knee injury saw Peceli Sukabula leave the field for Ba just before the halftime break.

After some stern pep talk at the break, the Ram's Cleaning Services and All Freights Logistics Suva lifted its performance in the second stanza and a good beautiful set-piece play allowed defender Simione Nabenu to sneak in with a header in the 68th minute, giving goalkeeper and Ba Captain Sanaila Waqanicakau no chance at all.

RC Manubhai sponsored Ba toiled hard and applied the pressure but Suva's defence led by goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva and national defenders Inoke Turagalailai and Remueru Tekiate held their own and kept the scores unchanged till the final whistle.

The teams:

Ba- Sanaila Waqanicakau (GK) (C), Manasa Nawakula, Nabil Begg, Savenaca Nakalevu, Ilimotama Jese, Peceli Sukabula, Emosi Navaba, Saula Waqa, Praneel Naidu, Etonia Dogalau, Rahul Naresh

Reserves: Tevita Koroi, Sitiveni Matalaba, Tuvita Vula, Ritik Prakash, Joeli Navalawa, Shivneel Singh, Faazil Ali, Narend Rao, Samisoni Waqabuli, Malakai Rere

Suva- Akuila Mateisuva (GK) (C), Simione Nabenu, Inoke Turagalailai, Rumeru Tekiate, Ramzan Khan, Malakai Rakula, Marlon Tahioa, Ravnesh Karan Singh, Azariah Soromon, Filipe Baravilala, Samuela Navoce

Rsereves: Steven Dean, Jovilisi Borisi, Melo Codro, Shazil Ali, Joeli Ranitu, Samuela Drudru, Waisake Navunigasau, Shahil Dave, Laisenia Raura, Merrill Nand, Nikil Chand.

By Romeka Romena