The Digicel Premier League (DPL) 2021 battle has further intensified following some exciting results registered in the round 12 competition last weekend.
It all started on Friday night when Labasa FC edged Navua FC 2-1 at the ANZ Stadium via Siotame Kubu and Taniela Waqa goal helping the Babasiga Lions to continue its unbeaten run.
However, it took a much changed and determined Esy Kool Nadi FC to bounce back from their three consecutive losses and came firing to beat Labasa 1-0 on Sunday at the same venue, handing them its first loss of the season.
Youngstar Tuiba Batiratu made the overall difference in the 65th minute as he was beautifully fed by William Valentine across the Labasa’s six-yard box and Batiratu slammed it past helpless Akuila Mateisuva to seal the victory.
Nadi’s young goalkeeper Tevita Ravia stole the show as he made some heroic saves to prove that the newly appointed coach Viliame Toma made no mistake in giving him the starting lineup.
It was then the battle of the cities the second match at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Merrill Nand was on song for the Unique Rubber Stamp Suva FC as he scored a brace to secure a 2-1 victory over the Viti Water Flow Lautoka FC and spoiling an early party for the visitors.
Nand punished the Blues in the first minute before getting his second in the 36th minute while Wilson Doedoke scored for Lautoka.
At Lawaqa Park, the mighty Stallions faced a 0-3 drubbing from the Delta Tigers.
Despite a packed vocal support, the Moshin’s Insulation Nadroga FC failed to spark as Gabriele Matanisiga, Ivan Kumar and Anish Khem scored a goal each to secure maximum points for Rewa FC.
The Online I.T Solutions Ba FC bounced back to their winning ways after two consecutive draws in their previous two outings.
The Daniel Krishneel-coached Men in Black registered a 3-0 victory over Navua FC at Churchill Park with goals from Savenaca Nakalevu, Shameel Rao and Sanaila Waqanicakau.
Blues remain at the top of the DPL table with 23 points after 11 matches while Suva FC is on second spot with 20 points after 12 matches. Rewa remains on third place with 19 points, one ahead of Ba who is on fourth place with 18 points.
Labasa, with four matches on hand, is on fifth place with 15 points while the Jetsetters are on sixth with 14 points. Nadroga is on seventh place with nine points while Navua remains at the bottom of the table with five points.
