Oceania Football Center

The second match of the group B was marked by the red card of Malampa Revivors forward Andre Batick, what made his side to play most of the match with only 10-men. Despite of the numerical advantage, Lautoka could not create clear chances to score – their only goal in the encounter was from a penalty kick taken by the New Zealand Jack Caunter.

Since the start of the clash, it was clear it would be hard for Malampa Revivors to surpass the defensive system of Lautoka: Jason Thomas playing as defensive midfielder and a back three composed by Poasa Bainivalu, Jack Caunter and Arami Manumanubai. The solid defense gave opportunity for players as Shivam Naidu and Zibraaz Sahib to feed the only attacker of the Fijians in the clash, the Ni-Vanuatu international Alex Saniel.

But it is in the midfielder where the games change; and it was controled by the talented midfielders Edwin Bai, Claude Aru and Dondy Kileteir of Malampa Revivors. Bai displayed several quality touches, including the assist for the first goal of Revivors – a through ball to Azariah Soromon that just needed to find the corner of Liam Anderson to put his side ahead. The defensive system of Lautoka was broken.

Unfortunately for Malampa, the good defender Tasso Jeffrey commited a foul inside the box minutes later his side opened the scoreline. Jack Caunter made no mistake and put his team back in the game. The possible game-changer would be the red card of Andre Batick after an agressive foul on Jason Thomas still in the first half, but Malampa kept creating the most important chances in the counter attack. The same Tasso Jeffrey almost scored after a lapse of concentration of Lautoka’s defense that allowed him to run free to the box, but unable to find the target.

The Ni-Vanuatu side had a penalty in the second half suffered by Soromon. The former Southern United man took the ball, but unfortunately for him and for his teammates he missed the target sending the ball over the bar. The same Soromon lost another good opportunity inside the box minutes later the missed penalty, in another very good play of Edwin Bai.

The talented team of Malampa was smart enough to calm down the calm and harm Lautoka in the counter attacks, where they were more dangerous than the powerful Fijian side that had most of the possession of the ball, but could not take advantage of it – most of the possession was in defense or in short passings in the midfield.

Alex Saniel was a threat for Malampa Revivors’ defense, but he was isolated and did not receive much support from the wingers and midfielders of his team. The idea to have a solid defense is inteligent by Anand Sami, but he is going to need a faster transition from defense to midfield if he wants to make Lautoka more dangerous offensively. After suffering the first goal, Lautoka was in real trouble – the team was made to defend well and get a counter attack, now they needed to get the ball to attack to pursue an equalizer and they did not seem trained for this and the team lacked players of offensive characteristics.

All Malampa Revivors players were good technically, we might wait to see if they are well prepared physically as well in the following matches. Since the goalkeeper Julian Malnaim until the central stiker Azariah Soromon, all players seemed to know very well each other, playing from the defense with the heads up looking for the best option to pass. Jesse Kalopong made a perfect match in the right back position, and the central defenders Loic Boulet and Tasso Jeffrey were very strong and also calm when having the ball.

Lautoka has a lot to improve for their next matches in the group B, but their squad have what they need; the introdution of Dave Radrigai in the next match may make Lautoka more dangerous in attack. Malampa is a very good surprise, playing a very entertaining football and just lack the final touch – they could had won the match if they finished a little better.