Late Kalou strike saves 4R Electrical Ba November 20, 2009
National defender Manueli Kalou was the toast of the 4R Electrical football club in its opening match of the 2009 National Club Championship finals in Nausori as his late goal gave the side a hard fought 2-1 victory over Downtown.
The top Ba club laced with the likes of Josaia Bukalidi, Ronil Kumar, Avinesh Suwamy, Osea Vakatalesau, Maciu Dunadamu, Peni Finau, Jone Vesikula, Kalou and Aisea Codro had to come back from a goal deficit to win its opening match of the finals at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori.
4R Electrical who comfortably beat the Nadroga club 2-0 in the western playoff last weekend found the going tough against the more spirited and determined Coral Coast boys who opened their account in the first spell through the boots of pint sized striker Imtiaz Hussein.
Downtown with Nadroga reps; Archie and Sitiveni Watkins, Krishneel Dutt, Thomas Coster, Luke Rawadamu and Jonas Naceva led 1-0 at halftime and also dominated possession in the second half but two late goals dampened their spirits.
Striker Osea Vakatalesau equalized from a defensive Downtown blunder to head the ball into an empty net and then it was Kalou in the dying moments of the match who rocketed the ball into the back of the net to keep his team’s chances of winning this season’s NCC final alive.
Fellow Ba club, Wailailai Youth with the services of Shalen Lal, Rinal Prasad, Alvin Singh, Shamil Rao, Jone Sorolo and Maveliko Nakama proved too strong for Lincoln of Tailevu Naitasiri winning 3-0 in the final match of Day 1.
Rao scored a hatrick in the match to send the Lincoln officials back to the drawing board to prepare well for their remaining matches.
The senior division club is been coached by former Suva rep and soccer commentator Raymond Stoddart.
RC Manubhai/Southern Forest NCC Day 1 results: Southern Forest Combine 3-2 Service (P2), Samabula 0-0 Jolly Brothers (P1), 4R Electrical 2-1 Downtown (P1), Lincoln 0-3 Wailailai Youth (P2).
News on
RSS 
