Blue Eagle Sports Club and Colombo Football Club will meet in the final, after edging out Java Lane Sports Club 4-3 and Red Star Sports Club 3-2 in a penalty tie-breaker, after their Vantage FFSL President’s Cup Inter-Club Football Tournament semi-final matches ended in a 2-all draw, after full time at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Both these teams will play in the grand final scheduled for September 2 at the same venue.
After conceding a 2-0 lead at half time, Java Lane SC bounced back magnificently into the game, with a great fight back and to hold their opponents to a 2-all draw at the final blast.
However, the luck was in favour of Blue Eagle SC as Java Lane SC’s hero in the quarter-finals and their goal-keeper, Ashfaq Ayub, could not deliver the goods, and failed to save two crucial penalty kicks, which saw them going down 3-4, in a thrilling encounter.
Blue Eagles SC which qualified for the semi-finals at the eleventh hour after New Star SC were fired from the tournament after fielding an overage player, did well to execute a proper plan and to contain their rivals.
It looked as if they had done their home work perfectly as they prevented their opponents’ onslaught perfectly. Their main playmakers were heavily marked and foiled all their teasing moves.
Java Lane SC of course, came into this match brimming with confidence but made a comedy of errors with goal-keeper Ashfaq Ayub, having an off day on the field.
In addition, their forwards who had been the strength so far in the competition were in total disarray. Ashfaq who contributed immensely covering the goal area had a poor first half, as one of the goals brushed aside his body before entering the goal mouth.
Earlier, Blue Eagles SC scored two goals in quick succession within the space of 12 minutes. Nethma Malshan booted their first goal while striker Kavindu Ishan chipped in with the second goal, which helped them to lead 2-0 at half time.
After the turnaround, Malaka Perera reduced the gap for Java Lane SC with a penalty kick after a rival player was penalised for rough play in the goal box area.
Later, Naveen Jude bisected the opponents’ defence to score off a well-executed right-footed kick which beat the diving goal-keeper to make the score 2-all at full time.
In the penalty tie-breaker, Hemantha Fernando, D. K. Duminda, Shanaka Wijesena and Kavin Ishan scored for the winners while Malka Perera, Abdul Latheef and Lakmal Perera scored for the losers.
Meanwhile, Colombo FC after forcing a 2-all by the full time against Red Star SC, managed to notch up a hard earn 3-2 win in the penalty tie breaker.
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