Yohane Richards equalized with the final kick of normal time and Manjula Fernando produced his penalty heroics once more as Blue Star SC defeated Navy SC 6-5 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in normal time.
Navy’s Chathuranga Sanjeewa header on the stroke of 90th minute seemed as if it would propel them to another final but Blue Star were awarded a penalty for a handball deep into injury time which Richards converted gleefully. Then Manjula Fernando reproduced his quarter final penalty heroics saving a couple of kicks to send Blue Star into back to back FA Cup finals.
This was a repeat of last year’s FA Cup semifinal which ended in 1-1 draw with Blue Star scoring in the first half and Navy equalizing in the second. Blue Star qualified for the final on penalties, winning 3-1 with Manjula again the hero. The two sides once again battled it out in the Premier League since then and Blue Star once again got the win, 1-0.
Blue Star came into form with a 4-0 demolishing of Police in the pre-quarters after only a last minute goal by Rifkhan saved them from Pelicans SC in the last 32 round. In the quarter finals they were taken the distance by a resilient Matara City but ultimately won 3-0 on penalties.
Navy on the other hand faced quality Champions League outfits in their last 32 round and pre quarters. The sailors defeated Super Sun 2-0 and came back from a goal down to equalize in the final minute and win on penalties against Air Force. In the quarter final Navy faced league champions Solid and after a back and forth battle a late Nalaka Roshan goal gave them a 3-2 win.
As predicted Navy had majority of ball possession but the heavy rain and muddy ground curtailed the attacks which worked in favour of the Kalutara side. Early on a Nalaka Roshan free-kick was flicked behind straight at Manjula and another header from Chalana Chameera hit the side netting.
Even in unfavourable conditions Navy somehow managed to create chances with Dammika Rathnayake who replaced Prasad Lakshitha missing his header by mere inches. The best chance came when Chalana Chameera ran for a through ball and his effort bounced off the on rushing Manjula and the rebound fell to Sanjeewa but his shot went just pass the upright.
Blue Star were pushed back into their own half in the second half as well with Navy missing chances. Sanjeewa again miss timed a header from Rathnayake corner and another rebound effort went over the crossbar.
However in the 90th minute Chalana Chameera raced for a loose ball near the byline and crossed it to the near post where Sanjeewa flicked a header pass Manjula Fernando silencing the vocal Blue Star crowd. With just seconds remaining Blue Star got a penalty when Chathuranga Silva hand-balled a Rangana Silva shot inside the box. Richards made no mistake in converting it and the Kalutara crowd again started to sing in full voice.
In the penalty shootout Christeen Fernando missed Navy’s first penalty and Ajith Kumara made a brilliant save to deny Blue Star skipper Mohamed Ramees in the fourth penalty. Then in sudden death a weak Mohamed Rifkhan shot was easily saved by Ajith Kumara sending Chathuranga Sanjeewa to score the winner. Under pressure Manjula Fernando dived to his left to deny Sanjeewa and kept Blue Star hopes alive. Then in the next take Manjula again dived correctly to save Subash Madushan’s effort to send Blue Star into the FA Cup Final.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Manjula Fernando
