NADI MOUNT TITLE CHALLENGE AFTER DEFEATING LABASA

An opportunist goal from Ili Gaunavou Junior was enough for Nadi to beat newly crowned Champion versus Champion winners Labasa 1-0 in the feature match of the Fiji New World National Football League.

Gaunavou who was acquired by Nadi this year after having previously played for senior division side Rakiraki, is considered one of the top strikers in Fiji at the moment.

Labasa was a shadow of the side which defeated Ba to win the Pillay Garments Champion versus Champion title recently.

The northerners lacked the killer instinct even failing to equalise from the penalty spot after Olympian Maciu Dunadamu missed his kick.

Nadi shocked the Labasa side in the 21st minute after a cross from Tevita Cokocokovata slipped out of the hands of goalkeeper Shamal Kumar.

Gaunavou was at the right place at the right time to tap the ball to the back of the net.

Labasa was awarded a penalty in the opening moments of the second half after Sanaila Dakaica brought down Samu Kautoga in the box. Maciu Dunadamu stepped up to take the penalty but placed the ball wide.

It was Labasa’s second match in two days after the side beat Nadroga 4-2 on Friday night.

Dunadamu opened the scoring for the Babasiga Lions but Fiji’s latest sensation Epeli Saukuru replied with two quick goals to give Nadroga the lead.

But Nadroga were undone by some poor goalkeeping and Labasa  profited through Dinesh Muadliar and Apisalome Turuva and an own goal.

The slip up by Labasa against Nadi saw Lautoka jump back on top of the points table after the side crushed Nasinu 7-1.

Isimeli Naresia was the star for the Blues scoring a double in the first half.

The home side was on fire scoring two goals in the opening seven minutes, however its momentum was halted by a sudden heavy down pour of rain.

Lautoka scored the opener in the third minute after Naresia broke through the right flank.

Naresia found Jone Vono Junior who dribbled into the Nasinu box before laying the ball off for Alvin Avinesh to tuck it home.

Naresia showed his class on the right flank again in the seventh minute beating three Nasinu defenders before unleashing a powerful right footer past goalkeeper Ambika Nand.

Nasinu shocked the Lautoka fans with Nasoni Mereki scoring in the 12th minute after Isikeli Seva failed to judge a corner kick.

It took the Blues another 10 minutes before Salesh Sami scored the third goal.

Naresia scored the fourth while Malakai Waqa claimed the fifth goal before halftime.

Netani Momoivalu came on as a substitute in the second spell to score the sixth goal. Seva made up for his first half blunder to slot in a penalty to seal Lautoka’s victory.

Seimata Chillia’s Suva had to fight off a spirited challenge from minnows Tavua to win 4-2.

The match, which was expected to be one-way traffic, was totally opposite.

However Seimata Chillia managed to find striker Leone Damudamu who pounced with a header to open the scoring infront of the crowd of 200.

Olympian Alvin Prasad made it 2-0 after halftime when his shot went in off the upright to make it 2-0.

Suva looking comfortable pushed forward to score more and Yogesh Narayan got the third with a thunderous drive.

However Tavua found its second wind and Ilimotama Jese pulled one back to narrow the deficit to 3-1.

Mohammed Muffin rifled in Suva’ fourth goal from distance to make it 4-1 before Petaia Qauqau got Tavua’s second.

Fiji New World National Football League Standings as of 14.4.08