The reigning champions finally edged out fellow finalists Labasa 1-0 in extra time of an enthralling contest after the 60 minutes – the standard time for Women’s IDC games – were not enough to seperate the evenly-matched sides.
Fijian international Stella Nivalurua turned out to be the match winner, finding the net in the seventh minute of the first extra period to eventually open the scoring. It was an advantage Labasa proved unable to claw back as Suva hung on to secure their second successive championship.
The clash was a repeat of last season’s final which Suva had won by a similar margin. In the build-up to the match, Labasa appeared determined to earn some revenge and knock the champions off their crown but the superior experience of Suva proved to be a decisive edge.
In the semi-finals earlier that day, Suva had comprehensively beaten Nadroga 5-0 while Labasa put hosts Ba out of contention with a 3-1 victory.
Suva and Ba remain the only districts to have won the Women’s IDC but the likes of Labasa, Nadroga, Nadi and Rewa are getting stronger and appear to be inching closer to a title win.
Women’s IDC Finals Day
Final:
Suva: 1 (Stella NIVALURUA 67′)
Labasa: 0
Sunday 4 December
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
Semi-finals:
Suva: 5 (Unaisi VATULILI 7′, 24′, Jessica ZHU LEI 19′, Stella NIVALURUA 32′, Lewamanu MOCE 43′)
Nadroga: 0
Sunday 4 December
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
Labasa: 3 (Sofi DIYALOWAI 15′, 26′, Wainikiti VOSADRAU 38′)
Ba: 1 (Adiela KURIKABA 12′)
Sunday 4 December
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj

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