A third match will be played to decide the Fiji Sun/GP Batteries National Football Premier League champions after Taveuni upset Tailevu Naitasiri in the Viti Levu versus Vanua series 1-0 at the academy ground in Ba yesterday.
Melvin Kumar's 11th minute strike was enough to earn the northerners the crucial win to tie both teams on points and goal differential after two matches.
Tailevu Naitasiri just needed a draw in the fixture to be crowned the premier division champions after beating Taveuni 1-0 on Saturday.
However luck seemed to evade the Tagi Vonolagi-coached side as they missed easy scoring opportunities.
Taveuni coach Billy Hussein said injuries in the first match cost them.
Hussein said he was forced to substitute two players within the first 10 minutes.
"In the first match, our game plan was disrupted by the early injuries," Hussein said.
"This is how Tailevu Naitasiri managed to score in the final moments. But the players recovered and we came out stronger in the second fixture. We could have won by a higher margin."
"Our aim was to do well in the series. We have now forced a third match decider. For the Courts Inter District Competition things will be different. We will be losing three schoolboys who are returning to sit for their examinations."
"We will request the Fiji FA to play the third match after a couple of weeks so the players can recover from the injuries."
Hussein refrained from commenting on the proposed Super Eight format which if implemented will deny the premier division side to fight for a spot in the top flight.
The proposed Super Eight will be tabled during the Fiji FA ordinary congress in Ba tomorrow.
Taveuni: Kaair Khan, Maciu Dreli, Vineel Naidu, Apenisa Ciwa, Sisa Valeusa, Vijendra Kumar, Mataivesi Vula, Samuel Nair, Melvin Kumar, Lenati Tukana, Lerio Afousima.
Tailevu Naitasiri: Shivneel Ram, Ricky Shankar, Ashwin Lal, Kaliova Tivula, Shelveen Prasad, Ratu Esori Gaunavinaka, Hoteshwar Padarath, Andrew Naicker, Jale Vota, Ravinesh Karan Singh.