Kaveen Sucharitha scored with two minutes left to play as St.Joseph Vaz registered a thrilling 3-2 win, shutting down the Dharmaraja College comeback in the Kotmale Chox U19 Schools Football Championship group match at the Bogambara Stadium.
The match started off in scrappy manner as both sides struggled to assert their authority in the match, with U.B.Weerakoon of Dharmaraja getting an early yellow card.
However it was the visitors who started to play attacking football which sent the Rajans onto the back foot. St.Joseph Vaz lads played attractive football and were richly rewarded when midfielder Ishara Sandaruwan scored their opener in the 20th minute.
Rajans’ T.I.Ekanayake tried to level things but some his volleys were straight at the visitors’ goalkeeper Sachintha Thambagala.
Photo Album – Dharmaraja College v St.Joseph Vaz College – Schools Football 2016
In the last minute of the first half St.Joseph Vaz forward Anil Manjula scored their 2nd goal which was assisted by Kavindu Bindushan.
With their backs against the wall Dharmaraja thwarted the attacks from Ashane Kanishka and scored a goal of their own, after missing a few, when Gihan Ishara jinxed his way into the box and superbly finished into the top corner.
Boosted by the goal Rajans attacked with venom and in the 72nd minute Ishara scored his 2nd to level the game and set up a grand finish.
Maris Stella breeze past inexperienced Hermann Gmeiner
Unfortunately for the hosts it was the visitors who scored the match winner in the 88th minute when a Tharindu Pramod corner kick was powerfully turned into the goal by Sucharitha and end the match 3-2.
ThePapare.com Player Man of the Match – Ishara Sandaruwan (St.Joseph Vaz College)
