The Rewa football team kept their semifinal hopes alive with a 5-1 win over Nasinu in their final group match of the Courts Interdistrict Championship at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, yesterday.

Rewa coach Marika Rodu said their aim was to score four goals and qualify for the semifinals.

“During halftime I reminded the boys that we have 45 minutes to stay in the competition and it’s now or never,” he said.

“We had a lot of chances in the dying stages of the game and that is something that will work on.”

Rodu said the team had been tested during the group matches.

“We have been tested and taken to the wire from day one,” he said.

“Those trying times have really helped us come this far and it shows the character of the players.”

What happened: Rewa dominated the game from the kickoff.

In the 24th minute Rewa central defender Epeli Valevou scored the first goal from a header.

Valevou scored his second goal in the 42nd minute with a shot from outside the box.

Halftime: Rewa 2-0 Nasinu

Nasinu came alive in the second half with defender Isikeli Ratucava scoring from a 50-metre shot that caught Rewa goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau off guard

Rewa replied with a goal to Patrick Joseph in the 34th minute to extend their lead 3-1.

Former Fijian Under-17 rep France Catarogo scored Rewa’s fourth before Hughes sealed the win his goal.

 Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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