Ba clubs, Samabula post big NCC wins

By Reginald Chandar

Ba's 4R Electric and GM United together with Suva's Samabula FC posted impressive wins on the opening day of the National Club Championship at Govind Park in Ba yesterday.

The star studded clubs proved too strong for their opponents in their respective matches.

In the opening match of the Kriz Signs sponsored national playoff, 4R Electric walloped Agriculture FC of Tailevu Naitasiri 7-0.

Malakai Tiwa, Ronil Kumar and Laisenia Raura struck for the home club in the first half as 4R Electric led 3-0 at the break and four further goals to Tiwa, Kiniviliame Naika, Rinal Prasad and Abbu Zahid in the second spell sealed the big win for the side which featured without its ace striker Osea Vakatalesau who has been handed a two match suspension.

GM United accounted for Lautoka's Rifle Range 6-2 in the second match with veteran Keni Doidoi becoming the top goalscorer of the day after netting four goals in the encounter.

Daniel Krishneel and Peter Hughes scored for GM United in the first half as the side led 2-1 at the break. Rifle Range took an early lead in the match through a Ravnil Raju strike in the 11th minute.

Deepak Raju levelled scored midway in the second spell and it was all left to Doidoi to score four goals and register the big win for his club.

Lami's Shore Blues caused the biggest upset of the day, defeating Navua's League FC in the third match 2-1.

A goal by Sailasa Vosaicake in the 27th minute saw the Blues enjoy a 1-0 lead at the break but Marika Wawanibau equalised midway in the second half.

Striker Laisenia Ratoto was the saviour for the Blues as he scored the winner six minutes from full-time to keep his club in contention.

The feature match of the day between top Suva clubs, Wailoku and Samabula did not provide much spark as Samabula proved to be the stronger side, registering a 3-0 win.

First half goals to Joseph Mishra, Nickel Chand and Sanni Issa were enough for Samabula for its first pool match win.

4R Electric now leads Pool 1 with 3 points and sits ahead of GM United due to better goal difference while Samabula leads Pool 2 with 3 points and is followed by Shore Blues.

Today's fixtures:

9.30am  Samabula FC  vs.  League FC  (P2)
10.45am Wailoku FC  vs.  Shore Blues FC  (P2)
12.00noon 4R Electrical FC  vs.  G M Ba FC  (P1)
1.15pm  Rifle Range FC  vs.  Agriculture FC  (P1)
2.30pm  Shore Blues FC  vs.  Samabula FC  (P2)
3.45pm  League FC  vs.  Wailoku FC  (P2)
5.00pm  4R Electrical FC  vs.  Rifle Range FC  (P1)
6.15pm  G M Ba FC  vs.  Agriculture FC  (P1)

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