A pressure less game by SLTB helped them overcome a young set of inexperienced Old Mazenods with 4 goals to nil in their Premier League Division I encounter at the Shalika ground.
Well trained SLTB had the advantage at their home ground which made them showcase an-entertaining game throughout.
Coach Sandun Devinda, former skipper of the Sri Lankan team, had his boys prepared well to control the outcome of every action. Advantage of having a good attacking line who proved what they are capable of by scoring 4 goals in a wonderful game of football.
Though the inexperienced Old Mazenods didn’t have much play on the game, their attacking line shined well with former Sri Lankan star Kasun Jayasuirya as striker and two speedsters on the wings.
Scoring chances were less in numbers but could have made the best when they had the opportunity. Unfortunately Kasun was sent off later in the game for a ridiculous foul.
First half was settled for the home team even though they could only get one goal ahead of the opponents. None of the movements ended in the nets except for the only one which took place in the 16th minute. Midfielder N. Weerasuriya made a game changing pass from the right corner to the far side of the penalty box which was well controlled and booted directly to the nets by left winger Nadeesha.
Just before the short whistle, a stolen ball by the right winger Krishanthan ended up one on one against the goalkeeper and had to chip it over the goalkeeper instead he chose to take a shot which went out of the target.
Just as the final half of the game started SLTB was awarded a free kick on top of the box on the far right side of the field. Defender M. Kumara’s wonderful shot hit the bar and the rebound was yet again kicked out of target when it was an open chance.
A golden opportunity was gifted to Krishanthan to make it up for the previous mistake, when he intercepted the pass and chipped over the ball to score the second goal for SLTB.
Not many minutes passed by to make a change in the score sheet. Goal scorer Nadeesha managed to dribble past his opponent to cross over the ball to fellow striker A. Kumara who just tapped the ball with minimal effort to score the third goal.
Couple of wonderful goal scoring chances were missed within the last ten minutes by the Old Mazenods. Both the chances were happened to be one on one against the goalkeeper.
First chance was missed by Kasun Jayasuriya who chose to kick the ball straight into the hands of goalkeeper and then the second chance was missed when Dilan Peiris’s shot went off target.
Final goal was scored by M. Peiris who came off the bench, just like the previous goal. But this time the cross was from Krishanthan.
A ground pass by the right winger made the defenders clueless as everyone thought he would take the shot instead he decided to pass. The pass directly went on to the substitute Peiris who took his time to make the shot into the nets.
Sandun Devinda, trainer of SLTB said he is looking forward to the next match and will prepare the boys step by step.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: C. Nadeesha (SLTB)
