The Labasa football side left it late to secure a 3-all draw against Ba in a Digicel Premier League match at Subrail Park yesterday.
Labasa went into the match in second position on the points table with 14 points followed by Ba with 13.
Ba, knowing they could surpass Labasa on the standings with a win, started on a high with a goal to Etonia Dogalau in the first few minutes.
Christopher Wasasala equalised for Labasa from the penalty spot as the teams rested tied 1-all at halftime. Ba proved to be the stronger side in the third quarter of the match as they scored two goals through Dogalau and Penisoni Tuirau to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the 57th minute.
Ba’s Suliano Tawanakoro was sent off for a second bookable offense while team manager Vincent Ali was also given the marching orders for allegedly creating a scene on the sideline.
With the advantage of an extra player, and backing of the home fans, Labasa gave its all to get back into the match.
Despite two disallowed goals, Labasa managed to get two goals from Netani Suluka and Sekove Naivakanainumi, the second in the dying minutes of the match.
Ba’s head coach Daniel Krishneel said the referee made some calls which were unethical.
“At the end of the day, he is the boss, he will make all the decisions on the ground,” he said.
Krishneel said Tawanakoro was frustrated with a call made by the referee.
“The player was given a red card because he is a referee and he makes the decision,” he said.
He said the referee’s job was to cool the player down, not to retaliate.
“No one is perfect,” he said.
He said without the strength and knowledge by the Almighty, the team wouldn’t have drawn with Labasa.
The draw sees Labasa maintain second spot on the standings while Ba remains third.
Meanwhile, in matches today, Tailevu Naitasiri battles Nadroga at 3pm at Nausori’s Ratu Cakobau Park.
In a double header at the Fiji FA Academy Ground in Suva, Lautoka travels to meet the capital city side at 1pm while Nasinu takes on Navua at 3pm.
