The Online IT Solutions Ba football club has moved up to fourth place in the Digicel Premier League points table standings after beating Unique Rubber Stamp Suva FC 2-1 at ANZ Stadium in Suva on Sunday.
Both teams started the match with confidence and eager to win in front of thousands of fans gathered to watch football after a lapse of six months.
Ba striker Samuela Drudru scored the opener in the 25th with a dazzling diving header after receiving a cross from Akash Sharma which caught Suva goalkeeper Emori Raqata napping.
Suva tried to get the eqauliser with Shahil Dave and Alex Senial pressuring the Ba defense which was guided by captain Ilmotama Jese.
Both teams went into half time break with Ba leading 1-0.
The second half saw the Capital City showing some urgency in the match as they threw more attacks in the Ba territory.
Ni-Vanautu import Alex Senial got the equaliser two minutes into the second half with a header similar to Drudru’s goal.
Ba coach Denial Krishneel made a tactical change in the second half sending is Etonia Dogalau, veteran Avinesh Warran Swamy and young Nabil Begg
Begg was the star for the Ba side after he scored the winner in the 84th minute. He walked his way past two defenders on the left-hand edge of the box and laid the ball into the path of Darold Kakasi who curled it back into his path, giving the youngster the chance to connect with a header which left goalkeeper Emori Ragata and the Whites defence stunned.
Ba president Rynal Kumar was happy with the win.
“Well first match after six months lay off and I think both teams wanted to win but I am really happy with the win,” said Kumar
“We have a new coach who did his best with the young players.
He said they fielded the best players for the match.
“We prepared well for the match and we fielded the fittest players to face Suva as you know we played after six months,”
Kumar said they had more work to be done as the team gets back in the winning ways.
“We have to build on this, there are some minor issues that we have to iron out and with a young team we will have a long way to go,” said Kumar
The Ba businessman added that they will continue using young players in the competition.
“We are on bye this week which will give us two weeks to work in our areas of concern and get back in the competition,” said Kumar
Suva remains in sixth place with 7 points.
The teams-
Unique Rubber Stamp Suva– Emori Ragata, Meli Codro, Simione Nabenu, Remueru Tekiate, Mohammed Ramzan Khan (Kelvin Naidu), Iosefo Verevou (C) (Manasa Levaci), Merrill Nand (Waisake Navunigasau), Alex Saniel, Shahil Dave, Filipe Baravilala, Mohammed Shazil Ali.
Online IT Solutions Ba– Sanaila Waqanicakau, Ilimotama Jese (C), Samuela Navoce (Etonia Dogalau), Emosi Navaba, Peceli Sukabula, Aakash Sharma, Kalaveti Sivoi, Shameel Rao, Naren Rao, Samuela Drudru (Avinesh Warran Swamy), Darold Kakasi.