Home losses open up CVC title race January 25, 2010
A loss at home to the three teams competing in the 2010 Champion Versus Champion series has opened up the race for the first title on the Fiji Football Association calendar.
Navua, Lautoka and Ba after registering impressive away victories, failed to give their fans the delight of a win on their home soil.
In the latest fixture, an inexperienced Navua outfit was piped 1-0 by Lautoka with former star Alvin Avinesh nailing in the lone goal against the southerners.
The win wasn’t only the first for the Blues for the season but it also revamped their hopes of clinching the Pillay Garments sponsored title for the first time.
Navua despite the loss still leads the points table with a better goal difference over Lautoka which also has four points.
Defending champion, Ba which has two matches remaining, stands the best chance of retaining its title provided the Men In Black record wins in both their matches against Navua and Lautoka.
Even a win and a draw might favor the Yogendra Dutt coached side.
The other teams on the other hand will hope that Ba drops points against either of them so they can displace the 15 times champion.
Navua which hosts Ba at the tfl National Stadium on Friday evening will want nothing less than a win to better its chances. A win will give the Southern Forest sponsored side 7 points on the table.
Lautoka likewise will also be hoping to beat Ba in the last fixture of the series on Sunday at Govind Park but the Blues will need to score two or more goals to claim the title.
The winner of the series will receive $3000 and gold medals while the runner up gets $1000 and silver medals.
CVC Statistics:
Standing- Navua 4 points (GD 0), Lautoka 4 points (GD -1), Ba 3 points (GD 1) Results- Lautoka 1-1 Navua, Lautoka 0-2 Ba, Ba 0-1 Navua, Navua 0-1 Lautoka. Remaining fixtures: Navua vs Ba (Friday 7pm at tfl National Stadium), Ba vs Lautoka (Sunday 3pm at Govind Park) Goal scorers: 1- Maciu Dunadamu (Navua), Jone Vono (Lautoka), Josaia Bukalidi (Ba), Malakai Tiwa (Ba), Rajneel Chand (Navua), Alvin Avinesh (Lautoka). Suspensions: Osea Vakatalesau (Lautoka), Usaia Tadu (Navua)- both players will be free to play for their teams this week after missing the weekend fixture. Outstanding players so far: Benaminio Mateinaqara (Navua), Lorima Dau (Lautoka), Alvin Avinesh (Lautoka), Pene Erenio (Navua), Malakai Tiwa (Ba), Josaia Bukalidi (Ba). Upcoming talents: Josefata Neibuli (Ba), Vinit Chand (Navua), Jale Vota (Navua).