Ronaldo scores 700th career goal in Euro qualifier with Ukraine

England thrash Bulgaria after game halted over racist abuse

SOFIA (Reuters) – England bounced back from their first tournament qualifying defeat for 10 years with a 6-0 thrashing of toothless Bulgaria on Monday in a Euro 2020 Group A clash marred by racist incidents in the first half that stopped the game. The match at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the...

Bua to return to primary schools IDC

BUA District School returns to the Fiji Primary Schools’ Football Association Inter District Championship (IDC) at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori this week after a lapse of few years. Association president Dinmani Mudaliar said the return of the school had boosted North’s participation in the annual event. “They are among the unbeaten teams in the...

Flamengo win again to stay top in Brazil

CURITIBA (Reuters) – Bruno Henrique scored twice as Brazilian league leaders Flamengo extended their unbeaten run to 15 games with a 2-0 win over Athletico Paranaense on Sunday. The striker struck just before halftime and then again in the dying seconds to complete the win that kept the Rio club on top of Serie A...

Wales hold Croatia to keep Euro 2020 hopes alive

CARDIFF (Reuters) – Wales kept alive their flagging hopes of reaching Euro 2020 by holding Croatia to a 1-1 home draw after Gareth Bale cancelled out an early Nikola Vlasic opener for the visitors in a bruising Group E qualifier on Sunday. The result left Croatia top of the group on 14 points from seven...

Babasiga Lions roar in district tournament

STYLISH striker David Ifunaoa caught the Suva defenders by surprise with a clever strike to guide Labasa to a 1-0 victory in the Courts Inter District Championship premier division final at Prince Charles Park in Nadi last night. The heavy rain and driving wind denied both teams to show their classy footwork, however, as the...

2019 Courts IDC: $25k winner

LABASA walked away $25,000 richer after defeating Suva 1-0 in extra time during the Courts Inter District Championship premier division title at Prince Charles Park in Nadi last night. Solomon Islander Dennis Ifunaoa, who came as a replacement, proved to be the star for the Babasiga Lions scoring the winner in the first minute of...

2019 Courts IDC: Navua retains senior division title

THE Navua football side had retained the Senior division title at the Courts Inter District Championship. Navua defeated Nadroga 1-nil in the final today Alfred Ali scored the winner mid way through the second spell. Nadroga did receive chances to equalise but the Navua defense led by veteran Seveci Rokotakala stood tall. The Navuans have...

Best of the best survives IDC 2019 battle

LABASA walloped an under strength Nadi outfit 5-0 in the Courts Inter District Championship premier division semi-final at Prince Charles Park yesterday to book a spot in this afternoon’s final. The Nadi Football Association made a stern decision to suspend several key players for allegedly going on a drinking spell following the 1-0 victory against...

Epic IDC final looms

SUVA and Labasa will face off in the Courts Inter District Championship premier division final at Prince Charles Park in Nadi this afternoon after the Western favourites Nadi and Ba bowed out yesterday. Suva defeated Ba 1-0 in a tense second semi-final with Christopher Wasasala getting a late winner while Labasa walloped Nadi 5-0. In...

McKennie scores record hat-trick as U.S. hammer Cuba 7-0

(Reuters) – Striker Weston McKennie scored the quickest hat-trick in U.S. soccer history on Friday as the home side hammered Cuba 7-0 in a Nations League match in Washington DC. The Schalke 04 forward got his first goal after just 30 seconds, scored a second four minutes later and then competed his hat-trick with 13...

Portugal and Ukraine close in on Euro 2020 with home wins

LISBON (Reuters) – European champions Portugal and high-flying Ukraine edged closer to reaching next year’s European Championship with comfortable home wins in qualifying Group B on Friday. Ukraine sank Lithuania 2-0 to stay top of the group on 16 points from six games, followed by Portugal who are on 11 points from five matches after...

Czechs upset England to end 10-year run in qualifiers

PRAGUE (Reuters) – England suffered their first tournament qualifying defeat for 10 years when they lost 2-1 away to the Czech Republic in their Euro 2020 qualifying Group A clash on Friday. It was a fully deserved win for the Czechs. They played with verve and determination against a sluggish England who delivered their worst...

2019 Courts IDC: Nadroga secure final spot after defeating Savusavu, 2-1

THE Nadroga football side is through to the final of the senior division at the Courts Inter District Championship. For a third year in a row Nadroga will play Navua in the final of the senior division. In 2017 Nadroga beat Navua 2-1 in the final. Last year Navua took its revenge winning 2-nil. In...

2019 Courts IDC: Defending champs Navua through to final

THE Navua football side is through to the final of the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship after defeating Lami 4-2 in the semi final today. Lami started well with a goal from Jasnit Vikash from the penalty spot in the 10th minute. Navua equalised through a header by Joseph Elder in the 39th minute from...

2019 Courts IDC: Nadi suspends eight players

THE Nadi football side has suffered a major blow ahead of the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship semi final against Labasa today. The hosts have suspended eight players after they were out on a drinking spree. Team President Javed Ahmed has confirmed that the group of players went out on a drinking spree on Thursday...

2019 Courts IDC: Selection open for players to play at WC qualifiers

THE selection for the national team to participate at the Oceania Football Confederation 2022 World Cup Qualifying Championship is wide open. The regional qualifiers will be held at the end of next year. OFC has a half spot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup which will be played in Qatar. The winner of the regional...

2019 Courts IDC: Nadi qualifies into IDC quarter-finals

HOST’S Nadi qualified for the semi-final of the Courts Inter District Championship after defeating Nasinu 1-0 at Prince Charles Park yesterday. Striker Rusiate Matarerega scored the lone goal through a penalty in the tenth minute. Nasinu fighting for a spot to qualify for the semi-final fell short of their campaign after upsetting Rewa 2-1 on...

2019 Courts IDC: Lautoka’s dream shattered after Labasa win

LABASA dashed Lautoka’s hopes of a three peat in the Courts Inter District Championship after defeating Ba 1-0 in the final Group A match at Prince Charles Park in Nadi last night. Lauoka having won the IDC title back to back in 2017 and 2018 trounced Tavua 7-3 but the 2-0 loss against Ba on...

2019 IDC: Labasa blows Lautoka chance to defend title

A NEW winner will be crowned at this year’s Courts Inter District Championship. This after defending champions Lautoka failed to qualify to the semi-finals of this year’s tournament. Lautoka thumped Tavua 7-3 in its last pool match, however, needed Ba to beat Labasa to have a chance of qualifying. Labasa beat Ba 1-nil in their...

2019 IDC: Three more players test positive for drugs

THREE players tested positive for drugs on day two of competition at the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship yesterday. Fiji FA competitions manager Amitesh Pal said 32 tests were done yesterday. Pal said it was a sad sign to see that players were still being tested positive despite the association’s efforts to keep drugs out...

2019 IDC: Labasa fights for semi-final spot

THE Labasa football side is through to the semi-finals of the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship. The Babasiga Lions had a hard-fought 1-nil win over Ba in its last pool match. In an intense match, both teams tried hard but could not find the back of the net in the first spell. Antonio Tuivuna broke...

2019 IDC: Suva secures semi-final spot

THE Suva football side has secured a spot in the semi-final of the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship after defeating Rewa 2-1 today. Sairusi Nalaubu opened the scoring in the second spell to put Suva ahead. Rewa’s Gabrielle Matanisiga equalised to give Rewa some hope. Gagame Feni regained the lead for Rewa late in the...

2019 IDC: Lautoka thumps Tavua in last pool match

THE Lautoka side thumped Tavua 7-3 in its last pool match at the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship, held at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park. Tavua was already out of the tournament but led twice in the first spell as Lautoka came back twice to level scores at 2-all. Lautoka will now wait for the result...

2019 IDC: Rewa and Suva play cautiously

REWA and Suva are locked nil-all at the half time of their pool match at the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship in Nadi. Both teams had a cautious approach in the first spell knowing that a goal against them would prove vital. Suva needs a draw in this match while Rewa needs a win to...

2019 IDC: Lautoka held at 2-all by Tavua at half time

DEFENDING champions Lautoka are being held 2-all by minnows Tavua at half time of the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship. Maeviko Nakama and Lekima Rokolisoa scored for Tavua while Jono Vono Junior and Samuela Drudru scored for Lautoka. Tavua is already out of the tournament while a win for Lautoka will strengthen its chances of...

2019 IDC: Nadi qualifies for semis

THE Nadi football side has qualified for the semi-final of the 2019 Courts Inter District Championship (IDC) in progress at Prince Charles Park. The home side beat Nasinu 1-nil in its last pool match today. Rusiate Matererega scored the lone goal from the penalty spot in the 57th minute of play. It was do-or-die for...

Evans believes professionalism will help Fiji football

FOOTBALL has to turn professional if Fiji has to become a powerhouse in the Oceania region, says Ivor Evans, one of Fiji’s first professional players who was present at the opening day of the Courts Inter District Championship. New Zealand leads the Oceania Football Confederation as the number one with the world ranking of 122...

Hunt on for Coach Gamel’s replacement

THE Fiji Football Association has received ten applications for the position of national team head coach. The suitable candidate will replace Frenchman Christophe Gamel, who tendered his resignation citing family commitments earlier this year. Gamel took over the reign as Fiji FA head coach in 2017 after the demise of Australian Frank Farina. Under Gamel’s...

Lautoka cleared to represent Fiji at 2020 OFC league

LAUTOKA has been cleared to represent Fiji at the 2020 Oceania Football Confederation Champions League. This is after the Fiji Football Association threw out the protest against the Blues filed by three teams. Labasa, Rewa and Tavua had filed protests claiming that Lautoka defender Poasa Bainivalu was not eligible to play against them in the...

Football

16th October