Negombo Youth defeated Matara City 4 goals to 2 in an 8th week match of the Dialog Champions League 2016 at Kelaniya.
Midweek clash between Negombo Youth and Matara City was an important match especially for the boys from down south. They desperately needed a win to avoid relegation this season. On the other hand Negombo Youth were in sublime form as they stacked up 11 goals in the last 3 matches.
Negombo Youth got off to a cracking start. Four minutes into the game they were already in the lead with a stunning goal by Madusanka Pieris. They did not let their opponents settle down and this was definitely not what the doctor ordered for Matara City.
Photo Album – Negombo Youth SC v Matara FC | Group Stage | DCL16
Matara city took some time to settle down and they gradually started to maintain more possession. In the 14th minute of the game, Matara found the equalizer through Prince Asamoah who bludgeoned a volley from inside the box. The equalizer gave them hope and it boosted their confidence.
The rest of the half was dominated by Matara City who created many chances but just couldn’t find the target.
Half Time : Matara City 1 – Negombo Youth 1
The boys from down south kept on applying pressure on the back line of the Negombo Youth. The pressure was telling and that’s when Abekah Aaron shot the perfect free kick from the tip of the box. Negombo was under the pump at the start of the second half which ultimately led to silly mistakes on the field.
Matara City’s lead only lasted seven minutes. Their commitment on the offense was too much which left the back line wide open. The cross from the right side towards the box fell perfectly for Priyakara Silva who was left unguarded inside the box and he just chipped it in to make it 2-All in the 62nd minute.
Matara City kept on attacking and they got a few chances but they missed which at the end proved very costly for them. In the 82nd minute Negombo Youth took back the lead through another easy goal. Pretty similar to the second goal but this time it was Bright Acootey who is commonly known as Pele who found his way past the only defender at the back.
It was even-stevens play right until the dying moments of the game but Matara let it slip when they missed a penalty in the 85th minute. Abekah Aaron took the penalty for Matara but Sathish Kumara stretched to his left and shoved the ball away from the goal.
During the added injury time, Negombo Youth scored another goal through Abdul Mumini which gave them another convincing win in the league.
Full Time: Matara City 2 – Negombo Youth 4
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match : Priyankara Silva ( Negombo Youth )
Goal Scorers
Negombo Youth : Madusanka Pieris 4″, Priyankara Silva 48″, Bright Acootey 62″, Abdul Mumini 90+4″
Matara City : Prince Asamoah 14″, Abekah Aaron 55″Bookings
Yellow Cards
Negombo Youth : Rajaratnam Minon 49″,
Matara City : Prince Asamoah 39″, Gamage Dinesh 58″
