SUVA – DEFENDING champion Labasa will still need a win over Ba in the Super Six decider this Saturday to retain the New World National Football League title despite beating Lautoka 2-0 at Churchill Park yesterday.
Goals in each half to Fiji U-20 starlet Amani Makoi and utility Kushal Naicker secured the much needed match points for Labasa.
Ahead of the decisive final round fixture at Subrail Park, both the Vodafone sponsored sides have 21 points each with Ba holding a superior four-goal advantage over the Lions.
Labasa boss Abinesh Kumar was impressed with the display against Lautoka.
Kumar said Labasa needed to put on a similar performance if it hoped to extinguish Ba’s title aspirations.
"Three points were vital for us and we really played well against Lautoka.
There was a lot of short passes put together by the players and we managed to open up their defence quite often.
I expect the team to get better against Ba because that’s the decider and we’ll be playing at home," Kumar said.
He said Labasa would field its strongest line-up against Ba.
"We know Ba will come prepared, but we’ll have home ground advantage and the services of all our players because no one has a double booking or injury.
"It will be an entertaining game and I urge the Labasa fans to come in numbers to support the boys."
Lautoka boss Shalendra Prasad was gracious in defeat.
"Labasa was the better team," he said.
The Blues finished the Super Six on a disappointing fourth position and Prasad said he would fly over overseas-based players for the upcoming IDC in Ba.
"Definitely, we’ll get players from overseas for the IDC.
I think the young players in the team need more time to adjust at district level.
"We’re looking at bringing a defender, midfielder and possibly a goalkeeper."
Meanwhile, Ba thumped Rewa 3-1 at Govind Park yesterday, to leapfrog the Babasiga Lions on top of the points table.
Ba has 21 points after nine matches, while Labasa has 18 points after eight games.
Labasa plays Lautoka today and will be out to get a win.
Regardless of the result, the Ba-Labasa match will decide the winner of S6.
Ba soccer president Rishi Kumar said much had been said about his side, after the district had written a letter to Fiji Football Association.
Ba had asked FFA to relook at the match being played at Subrail Park due to safety concerns.
"We will go to Labasa in line with fair play," Kumar said.
The match against Rewa saw Ba miss a number of its top players, and the side missed a number of scoring opportunities.
Kumar said they should have scored more goals, but the players lacked finishing.
"The match is over and now we look forward to the Labasa games," he said.
Goals by Tuimasi Manuca, Ronald Lawrence and replacement Maveliko Nakama got Ba maximum points.
Ratu Semi Dileqa got a consolation strike for the visitors.