SUVA – Suva’s Alvin Prasad scored a classic goal as the hosts beat Nadi 1-0 at the 69th Courts Homecentres Inter District Competition (IDC)at the Post Fiji Stadium last night.

Prasad curled in a wicked shot which Nadi and Fiji international goalkeeper Ben Amino failed to judge and it sailed past him into the goal.

Nadi’s Eliki Ravosai was shown a red card after he fouled Suva midfielder Seimata Chillia while Suva’s Akariva Dau was sent off for a similar foul in a rugged opening IDC encounter
in the capital.

The match was lacked all the ingredients required for a match with finesse until the Prasad goal.

The absence of dropped players like Waisake Sabutu and Marika Rodu showed as the Jetsetters failed to stamp authority in the match.

Suva – which didn’t have a good season in the New World National League – showed it will not give up easily in its quest to win the coveted Lloyd Farebrother Trophy.

“The Whites” will face Labasa tonight in the feature match and a lot will be at stake with the winner of the match almost gaurenteed to progress further in the IDC.

Meanwhile, Navua proved to be a polished outfit on the first day with 2-1 win over Shop and Save Lautoka.

The Saiyad Ali coached side will be tough and with the inclusion of former Waikato FC players, Che Bunce and Matthew Williams, the Southerners showed good form.

Lautoka will have work hard today in improving its chances and without the services of top marksman Sailesh Sami “Bula”, the side’s other strikers will have to step up.

Defending champion Vodafone Ba was in good form despite missing most of its regulars and even though Tavua pushed Yogendra Datt’s team all the way, the “Men in Black” managed to eek
out a tough 2-1 win.

The flair is evident in the Ba side but with a number of defections in recent times – including the influential pair of Peni Finau and Osea Vakatalesau to Youngheart Manawatu – the
team looks more vulnerable than it did in the past.

Vodafone Labasa and Lincoln Refrigeration played out a 0-0 draw and will have to improve if they are to pose a serious challenge for the title.

Labasa didn’t play the way it was expected and will have to improve vastly if they are to replicate their New World National League success of just a few weeks ago.

IDC RESULTS:

Labasa 0, Lincoln 0; Ba 2, Tavua 1; Navua 2, Lautoka 1; Suva 1, Nadi 0.