Captain Mohamed Mujeeb scored twice as Hameed Al Husseinie College defeated Wickramabahu College, Gampola 3-1 in the Sri Lanka Schools Association U19 Division I quarter final at the P.D.Sirisena ground, Maligawatta.
The hosts were on top from the first whistle but lacked the finishing touches with Mohamed Ashanullah firing well over from close range, after he found himself unmarked at the far post from a long throw-in.
Thereafter Mujeeb volleyed from outside the box which was saved by a diving G.E.Kurukulasooriya for a corner.
However in the 15th minute Mujeeb found a way through, after he found himself one on one with the goalkeeper from a through ball and calmly slotted it past the on rushing keeper to make it 1-0.
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As the game went on the visitors came into the match but without success as R.G.Athanayake free-kick was saved at the near post by Murali Dinesh and a couple of other efforts went wide.
Sandaruwan Nisanth was devastating on the right for Hameed Al Husseinie as he created numerous chances and fired a shot wide himself towards the latter half of the match.
Sandaruwan took advantage of a defensive error as he danced down the right and put the ball across the face of the goal where an unmarked Mujeeb scored completing his double.
Photo Album – Hameed Al Husseinie v Wickramabahu College
On the stroke of halftime Tharaka de Soyza stole the ball from the Hameed al Husseinie defense but was unable to score, firing the ball over the crossbar.
After halftime a rejuvenated Wickramabahu College scored in the 42nd minute through S.D.Gunawardena setting up an interesting clash, where the visitors were second best until then.
The Bahuwans tried valiantly to get the equalizer but were let down in the attacking third.
Hameed Al Husseinie soon regained the control of the game as they started to create chances again. A misplaced pass from Mohamed Arfath sent Mujeeb into the goal, where he set up Ahshanullah but Kurukulasooriya’s sliding tackle prevented a certain goal.
Though Sandaruwan was quiet in the second half compared to his first half performance, he nonetheless found a well-deserved goal as his powerful shot from an acute angle crept through the goalkeeper to bury the game at 3-1.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Sandaruwan Nisanth
