Playing in their first BOG, the Southerners backed by vocal home crowd performed exceptionally well against their superior opponents but failed to utilize the opportunities with lack of finishing.#The Emmanuel Mannu coached were determined and displayed some structured football and could have even gone up at the stroke of halftime had midfielder Kaliova Tivulu netted a penalty after striker Joseph Elder was brought down inside the box by Zibraaz Sahib and the match referee Deepak Mudaliar did not hesitate to award a penalty. #Tailevu Naitasiri midfielder Kaliova Tivulu stood up to take the spot kick but his attempt came off the cross-bar. #Former Suva,Lautoka and Nadroga goalkeeper Alifereti Baleiloa who made his debut for the southerners displayed some excellent goalkeeping denied Lautoka any chances to score.#The Shop and Save Blues Lambert Sarju sent in Edward Justin and Ratu Josefata Dugucagi in the second half with the hope of netting their opener Baleiloa stood tall. #The former Blues stopper displayed a Man of the Match performance and did not disappoint in his first tournament appearance for the Immanuel Manu coached side.# #Blues coach Lambert Sarju was not too pleased with the outcome and said they will have to work harder in the remaining matches to stand a chance of progressing to the last four.# “We had so many chances yet we could not score. The match was definitely a tough one. We had expected a tough game but not a draw. We need to go back and relook at our strategies and come back stronger in the next game,” he said.#Lautoka plays Nadi in its next match at 5pm tomorrow while Tailevu Naitasiri will take on Suva at 3pm.#The teams: Lautoka- Senirusi Bokini, Zibraaz Sahib, Kelvin Naidu, Arvindra Naidu, Kavaia Rawaqa, Alvin Avinesh, Isikeli Jeke, Peni Finau (C), Jone Vono, Siotame Kubu, Jone Nailogi. #Tailevu Naitasiri- Alifereti Baleiloa, Semi Vakatalai, Ravendra Nadan, Madhavan Goundar, Joseph Elder, Nasoni Mereke, Luke Rawadamu, Jone Senikibau, Kaliova Tivulu, Savirio Naqoli, Shivneel Ram.#
Tailevu Naitasiri held Lautoka
