The Labasa soccer team defeated Nadroga 2-0 to lead pool 2 after day 1 of the Vodafone Fiji Fact at Subrail Park.
Labasa team captain Taniela Waqa scored in the 46th minute to open the scoring.
The hosts increased their lead with a Christopher Wasasala pile driver from Edwin Sahayam cross.
The defending champion’s Coach Johan Leewai said they are ready to face Suva today.
The game of the day was Ba against Rewa when the Men in Black came from 2-0 down to hold Rewa 2-2 in the third match of day one.
National team player Avinesh Swamy was the savior for the Men in Black when his pile driver zoomed into the back of the net not giving diving Rewa goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau any chance to stop for the final score to end at 2-2.
Rewa settled in early and took advantage of the unsettled star stud Ba defense led by Alvin Singh.
Lack of concentration in Ba back-line allowed Misaele Draunibaka to sneak in and tap the ball over Ba goalkeeper Josaia Ratu in the 20th minute of the first half to put Rewa up by 1-0.
The Delta Tigers came back strongly after the breather and it was Iosefo Verevou who neatly placed the ball beside Ba goalkeeper for the 2nd goal in the 7th minute to make it 2-0.
Ba applied continuous pressure after being 2-0 down in the thrilling encounter as Shameel Rao managed to pull one back from a free kick to make it 2-1.
After yesterday’s matches, Nadi lead pool 1 with 3 points followed by Ba and Rewa with one point each.
Nadi Coach Joseph Nand said his side will play a new style of game today.
Labasa and Lautoka are tied with 3 points but the hosts head pool 2 with better goal average.
In the earlier matches yesterday, Lautoka beat Suva 1-0 with a Josefata Dugucagi goal while Nadi defeated Dreketi 2-0.
Today's matches will see Rewa take on Dreketi at midday, Nadroga face Lautoka at 2pm, Nadi clash with Ba at 4pm while hosts Labasa take on Suva at 6pm.
You can hear the live commentaries of the Nadi vs Ba match and Labasa vs Suva match on Radio Sargam.
