BA veteran Malakai Tiwa’s attempt to fool Suva goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau with a Panenka kick in the penalty shootout backfired as the experienced Tamanisau stood his ground to catch the chip shot to earn his side a berth in the final.
The Panenka is a technique used in penalty kicks in which the taker, instead of kicking the ball to the left or right of the goalkeeper, gives a subtle touch underneath the ball, causing it to rise and fall within the centre of the goal, deceiving the goalkeeper who is counted on by the taker to have guessed a side and committed a dive away from the centre.
With Suva leading 4-3 in the shootout, Tiwa went on to be the fifth penalty taker for Ba.
His Panenka attempt was read well by Tamanisau which left many of the Ba fans bemused. Prolific striker Gagame Feni continued his goal scoring spree in the tournament claiming the opener for the Southerners in the 24th minute.
Suva led 1-0 at the break.
The Men in Black were on level terms at the resumption of the second spell after a penalty.
Lanky Saula Waqa was tripped by Tomasi Uculoa inside the box and Narend Rao made no mistakes from the spot kick.
Avinesh Suwamy, Manasa Nawakula and Malakai Rakula scored for Ba in the shootout.
Tamanisau also saved Kishan Sami’s attempt.
Kelvin Naidu, Shahil Dave, Iosefo Verevou and Feni scored for Suva while Filipe Baravilala sent his penalty kick over the cross bar.
Ba team manager Arvind Singh said they missed many chances and should have taken out the fixture in the mandatory time. Singh said when it came to the penalties then it was anyone’s game.
Suva coach Saroj Kumar could not control his emotions after the fixture and was in tears.
This will be the first time for Kumar to coach a team into the final of a major tournament. Kumar said it was a hard game.
“For me it is the first time to reach the final and you see that I’m so emotional,” he said.
“I thank the Ba team for a grand challenge. They provided stiff competition. From now on, it is back to the drawing board to see how Nadi play. They put a lot of pressure on teams so we will have to organise ourselves on how to contain them.
For us we have to look at the extent of the injuries in the team. I would like to thank the fans for cheering for us and we hope to do well in the final.”
Ba: Misiwani Nairube, Manasa Nawakula, Sitiveni Cavuilagi, Ratu Dau, Darold Kakasi, Abbu Zahid, Shazil Ali, Ilimotama Jese, Saula Waqa, Malakai Tiwa (Captain), Narend Rao. Suva: Emori Ragata, Epeli Leiroti, Michael Boso, Remueru Tekiate, Gagame Feni, Iosefo Verevou, Meli Codro, Tomasi Uculoa, Ratu Anare Apenisa, Waisake Navunigasau, Filipe Baravilala.
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