THE Babasiga Lions left it until the closing stages to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Navua in a tightly contested Extra Premier League clash.
After a goalless first half, Navua frustrated Labasa with a disciplined defensive display, denying several scoring opportunities.
The breakthrough finally came with only a few minutes remaining when Melvin Mani found the back of the net after being set up by teammate sparking celebrations amongst the players.
Labasa coach Alvin Chand praised his players for sticking to the game plan despite the strong challenge from a powerful Navua side.
“I’d like to thank my players. They played really well. We knew Navua would give us a tough run and that’s exactly what happened,” Chand said.
“The boys maintained their discipline and carried out our match plan properly. Credit also goes to Dan for providing the assist for Melvin’s goal.”
Chand said he reminded his players during the halftime break not to force opportunities in attack and to remain patient.
“I told the boys to use their options well and not rush play in the attacking third. The goals would come if we used the right methods. The substitutes also made a big impact and changed the game.”
The win strengthens Labasa’s position in the league standings, with Chand describing next week’s clash against Ba as another crucial fixture.
“Every game matter because the competition is so tight. We’ll assess injuries, focus on recovery and then prepare well for Ba,” he said.
Chand also acknowledged the support of the club’s sponsors, officials and volunteers before thanking the large crowd for backing the team throughout the match.
The team will now shift its focus to their next outing against Ba this weekend.
In other matches Tailevu Naitasiri 3-2 Suva FC, Rewa 1-1 Nadi, Ba FC 4-1 Lautoka FC, Nadroga FC 1-0 Nasinu FC.
