In a match where goalkeeper Nilanka Kumara was virtually anonymous, Army toyed with an out of sorts Java Lane to win 4-1 in the Dialog Champions League Super 8 Round 2 encounter at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

JLArmy

Army filled with confidence coming to this match after winning their first match against Blue Star and continuing their good form this season. Java Lane having faced a shameful 4-0 defeat against Renown in their first match needed to put up a good performance in this match but it wasn’t meant to be.

The whole 90 minutes was dominated by the soldiers. Java Lane was unable to take control of the match for even a five minute period in the first half. For the second game running their defense was lacking coordination and their front line could not earn territory to pose a threat on the Army back line.                                                                           

Java Lane’s game plan was to go on the counter attack but Sri Lanka U19 cap Afam Akram together with the stand-in skipper Malaka Perera and Mohamed Abdullah could not keep possession or create any chances in the first half.

Even though Army dominated play they had only one goal to show for it which came due to a defensive error. Madushan De Silva crossed the ball from the left side which was misjudged by the goalkeeper Dammika Senerath and the defenders letting Punsara Thiruna to tap in from close range.

Army made some changes in the second half. Sajith Kumara was replaced by Jasuraj Bernard, which paid dividends right away as he scored his first goal in the 65th minute. Mohommad Issadeen went past a few defenders and had a shot on goal which was deflected off by Dammika Senerath but unfortunately for him Bernard was right in front to take the rebound and shoot on goal.

Seven minutes after Bernard scored his second goal, Army skipper Lakshitha Jayathunga sent the ball across from the right side towards Bernard who just had to direct the ball to the back of the net. Java Lane was let down by their back line which lacked coordination right throughout the match.

Java Lane too made a few changes in the second half, the addition of their injured skipper Mohamed Rizkhan gave some hope for them in drawing back the deficit but it was too little too late. Rizkhan played his part in their only goal.  A brilliant cross from the right wing was directed goal wards by Malaka Perera from the six yard box in the 90th minute.

That goal did not make much difference in the score-line as Punsara Thiruna replied with another goal for army, his second for the match. The ball was passed to open space through the defense, Thiruna having enough gas in his tank to run past the defenders to score and give Army and emphatic 4-1 victory over Java Lane SC.

ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Punsara Thiruna

What the Coaches had to say,

Army SC Coach Mohamed Fawmy: “We could have scored more in the first half. Our front line let us down in the first half but I’m really happy with how the replacements performed in the second half. I am hoping to do some changes going into the next match.”

Mohomma Zaheer the Coach of Java Lane: “Our defense was weak right throughout the match, same thing happened in our first match. It’s almost as if we awarded them the goals in the second half.”