Ba opened their Pacific Community Cup 2025 campaign with a 1–0 win over Northshore All Stars at Bill McKinlay Park, secured by a first-half goal from Penisoni Tirau.
The team took time to settle into the contest as Northshore enjoyed long spells of possession early on. Despite their control of the ball, Northshore struggled to break down a well-organised Ba defence.
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Tirau pounced inside the box to give Ba the lead. The goal proved decisive in a match that remained tightly contested throughout.Northshore made several changes in the second half in search of an equaliser, but Ba held firm, with substitute Nabil Begg adding fresh energy late in the game.
Speaking after the match, Ba FC President Praneel Dayal said his side had to work hard to overcome the early pressure.
“The match was really tough, especially in the first half. Once the boys settled, the goal came, and that’s what we wanted for our first game,” he said. “The support around the ground was incredible, mostly Ba fans, and we’re grateful for that. We expect even more people to turn up [today].”
Northshore official Ravinesh Maharaj felt his team were unlucky not to come away with at least a point.
“I would say we played really well. We kept possession and dominated large parts of the game against Ba,” he said. “A 1–0 loss is not bad, and we’ll regroup and come back stronger. The focus is on winning the next match and staying alive in the tournament.”
With this win, Ixcel Finance solutions and Dayal Sawmillers Ba lead Group A with three points, while Discount Panel and Paints Rewa and AUFFI All Stars are tied in second place with one point each following a goalless draw.
Ba, who last lifted the Pacific Community Cup title in 2022—the most recent time a Fijian side has won the competition—now turn their attention to Day 2, when they face AUFFI All Stars at 8pm. Rewa will also be looking for their first win when they take on NZFFI All Stars at 6:45 pm today.
Day two of the Pacific Community Cup 2025 begins at 3pm, with the AUFFI U16 All Stars taking on Canada U16 All Stars.
