Labasa has beaten Ba 2-1 in the final of the Champion versus Champion series to clinch the title for the first time in fourteen years.
Labasa won the series 3-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg 1-0 at Subrail Park last month and ended Ba’s dominance in the competition – one which they had not lost since 1993.
The side was rewarded with $3000 for lifting the title and the Labasa Football Association has indicated that they will be pouring in another $2000 to be shared among the players.
The Babasiga Lions ended the Men in Black’s record winning streak with a sublime effort in front of 5000 fans.
Ba pushed forward from the opening whistle when Alvin Singh sent a cross into the Labasa box but Josaia Bukalidi failed to get his shot through as the Labasa defence cleared.
Labasa adopted a defensive game plan with striker Maciu Dunadamu often the only player left up in Ba territory.
As the game progressed Labasa changed its game pattern and started to find gaps in the Ba defence.
Their continued pressure paid off in the 42nd minute when Dunadamu’s shot found the back of the net despite a frantic dive by Lawrence and Labasa led 1-0 at the break.
Ba came out firing in the second spell moving quickly into attack. Shalen Lal’s had a shot blocked by the Labasa defence and Ba sprung a counter attack which led to Taniela Waqa blazing a shot wide.
In the 62nd minute Lawrence parried Henry Dyer’s shot which fell into the path of Dinesh Mudaliar who slammed the ball to the back of the net to double Labasa’s advantage.
Ba were able to pull a goal back in injury time through Mavaliko Nakama but it was not enough to retain the title which they had held for so long.
Labasa skipper Nemani Rasiga said his side were confident they could win the match.
“Ba had questioned the winning goal scored by Labasa in the first match and this fired up the boys to prove themselves in front of the Ba fans,” he said.
"Today we have proved to Ba that they are not the only champions of Fiji soccer."
Rasiga said the victory has set the platform for the season and that their investments in players such as Taniela Waqa and Samuela Kautoga had paid off.