Ba ended Labasa's unbeaten Super Six run tonight as they edged the northerners 3-2 in the feature match of the round.

The win has opened Ba's chances of claiming the title and has also equaled the number of wins to 3-3 between the two teams out of their six encounters so far this season.

Veteran midfielder Keni Doidoi made a timely return after missing the BOG and became the hero of the side as he scored the winner for the Men In Black in the 82nd minute after following a well timed cross from youngster Maviliko Nakama.

As expected the match started on a fast pace and Labasa shocked Ba with a 2nd minute goal to crafty midfielder Henry Dyer whose attempt gave Ba goalie Nicholas Lawrence no chance.

Labasa playing without its top goalkeeper Shamal Kumar had problems in the goalkeeping department in the entire match as stand in goalie Vereti Dixon was not comfortable between the sticks adding pressure to the Labasa defenders who had to work overtime.

Ba's Labasa import Maciu Dunadamu leveled scores in the 17th minute after beating a Labasa defender and placing the ball beyond the reach of Dixon.

The teams rested at the breather leveled 1-1 and Ba policeman Ronald Lawrence opened the scoring in the 13th minute of the second spell with a pile driver which found the roof of the net.

Rugged Labasa defender Apisalome Turuva kept the Babasiga Lions in the match with his thunderous freekick from outside the Ba box in the 31st minute which deflected off Ba defender Manueli Kalou and landed at the back of the net to give Labasa the equaliser.

The last fifteen minutes of the match proved to be the most exciting part of the match as both teams hunted for the winner in the match with Ba managing to find the net through Doidoi in the 82nd minute to send Labasa packing.

Ba coach Yogendra Dutt's changes clicked just as it had against Nadi on Wednesday with youngster Nakama and Doidoi doing the damage when it mattered the most and experienced defender Malakai Keinahewe entering the park in the critical moment of the match to tighten the team's defence.

Ba plays Suva in its third match of the week on Sunday at the National Stadium while Labasa features against Nadi at Prince Charles Park on Sunday in its second match of the weekend.

The teams:
Vodafone Labasa- Vereti Dixon, Taniela Waqa, Samuela Kautoga, Apisalome Turuva, Nemani Rasiga, Menuesi Senibuli, Alvin Avinesh, Sandeep Nair, Henry Dyer (Kushal Naicker), Roy Krishna, Joseph Nimariau (Dinesh Mudliar).

Vodafone Ba- Nicholas Lawrence, Manueli Kalou, Alvin Singh, Jone Vesikula, Shalen Lal, Ronil Kumar, Tuimasi Manuca (Maviliko Nakama), Ronald Lawrence, Pita Bolaitoga, Rinal Prasad (Keni Doidoi), Maciu Dunadamu (Malakai Keinahewe).

Man of the match: Ronald Lawrence (Ba)
Goals: Dyer (2nd min); Dunadamu (17min), Lawrence (58th min),Turuva (76th min), Doidoi (82nd min)
Referee: Leone Rakoroi
Bookings: Apisalome Turuva, Roy Krishna, Alvin Avinesh, Sandeep Nair, Ronil Kumar
Ground: playable

Fijilive

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