BA: Fiji football giants Ba failed to fire against Hekari Souths of Papua New Guinea in its Group B fixture of the O-League losing 1-3 at Govind Park in Ba on Saturday.

More than 5000 fans that turned up to witness the encounter went home dejected as the hosts displayed a below par performance with fitness the biggest obstacle for the "Men In Black."

The three goal deficit at the breather made life very difficult for Ba as the faster and more skilful Hekari forwards kept the pressure until the final whistle.

Fijian players Lorima Dau and Ratu Veresa Toma featured strongly for Hekari and played aggressively against their own countrymen which saw them both copping a yellow card each.

Hekari opened their scoring in the 17th minute through a penalty to Kema Jack after Toma was fouled in the Ba penalty box by Shalen Lal.

Solomon Islanders Joachim Waroi and Benjamin Mela struck in the 34th and 37th minute to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead at the breather.

Hardworking striker Osea Vakatalesau managed to pull one back in 58th minute after some good individual play.

The Hekari Souths management made timely substitutiions in the second spell which allowed them to cling on to the lead.

Ba coach Yogendra Dutt’s tactic to introduce Alvin Singh, Aisea Codro and Joshua Wilson did not work well against the more fitter and determined opponents.

2009 O-LEAGUE MATCH DAY 4

Group B

Saturday 14 February, 2009

Ba vs. Hekari Souths

Govind Park, Ba

Referee: Peter O’LEARY

Ba: 1 (Goal Scorers: Osea VAKATALESAU)

Hekari Souths: 3 (Goal Scorers: Kema JACK, Benjamin MELA, Joachim WAROI)

Halftime: 3-0

Ba: 2.Avinesh SUWAMY, 3.Shalen LAL, 4.Maueli KALOU, 5.Ronil KUMAR, 6.Jone VESIKULA, 7.Tuimasi MANUCA, 9.Josaia BUKALIDI, 11.Alvin SINGH, 13.Maciu DUNADAMU, 16.Malakai TIWA, 17.Malakai KAINIHEWE, 20.Epeli CODRO  [gk], 21.Jone RALULU  [gk], 22.Kiniviliame TURAGALAILAI, 23.Aisea CODRO, 26.Joshua WILSON, 29.Peni FINAU, 30.Osea VAKATALESAU

Coach: Yogendra DUTT

Hekari Souths: 4.Cyril MUTA, 5.Brian TUHIANA, 7.Benjamin MELA, 8.Michael FOSTER, 9.Abraham INIGA, 11.Joachim WAROI, 12.David MUTA, 13.Andrew LEPANI, 17.Kema JACK, 18.Ericson KOMENG, 19.Koriak UPAIGA, 20.Gure GABINA  [gk], 21.Brian FENI, 22.Lorima DAU, 27.Veresa TOMA, 28.Joowan JUNG, 30.Leslie KALAI  [gk], 31.Judd MOLEA

Coach: Jerry ALLEN

Group B Standings

  PL W D L GF GA PTS GD
Koloale FC 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 +2
Ba 3 1 1 1 3 4 4 -1
Hekari Souths United FC 3 1 0 2 5 6 3 -1

Story courtesy www.fijilive.com