THE Lautoka football team lost its second game 0-7 in the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League in Vanuatu yesterday.
The Blues lost to Lae City Dwellers from Papua New Guinea.
Lautoka trailed 0-5 after the first half and it plays its last pool match at 12 midday on Friday against the Henderson Eels team.
Lautoka drew its first game 1-all last Saturday against Malampa Revivors FC.
Meanwhile, OFC Media reportes that the entertaining opening match day produced two drawn fixtures, the group is there for a team to take control of with a victory in their second outing in Luganville, Vanuatu yesterday.
Lautoka could not open proceedings when it met Papua New Guinea’s Lae City FC, in yesterday’s intriguing battle.
Lautoka struggled with its combinations during their 1-1 draw with Malampa on Saturday as it tried to bed in a number of new players to their squad.
On the flipside, Lae enjoyed some bright moments in their 3-3 draw with the Henderson Eels and played with plenty of pace, which looks to be their main weapon in the Champions League. Lautoka coach Anand Sami said his side needed to improve their defence.
“They’re falling behind the ball and they’re not trying to press the player with the ball and they’re giving (them) plenty of time to play the long ball, or hit it in the scoring areas,” Swamy said of his defenders.
“We have to polish up on pressing very quickly. Our players need to press up very quickly to the ball carrier.”
Lautoka was without Dave Radrigai (suspension) and Shazil Ali (illness) for the first game but Sami said they would slot straight back in.
Radrigai has more than 20 international caps for Fiji and his experience should serve as vital to their cause.
In the second game, the Malampa Revivors will need to juggle their attacking line for their clash with Solomon Islands club the Henderson Eels after forward Andre
Batick was shown a red card against Lautoka on Saturday and will be suspended.
Revivors coach Steve Varegali said he had a replacement in mind and Michel Soksok looms as an option after he was given some game time from the bench against Lautoka.
The fans in Luganville came out in droves to the Luganville Soccer City Stadium to support the hometown Revivors.
