Negombo Youth bounced back in the second half to equalize the game yet failed in the penalty shootout. Blue Star qualify for the knock out stage in the Cargills Food City FA cup tournament.
Blue Star being the favorites of today’s match started off very well. Ball play between the strikers and the midfielders was perfect. Captain Mohamed Ramees led the team in very well and the team set about playing some beautiful football to make it a success. Strikers A.O.Daniel and Afeez Olayemi, the Nigerian born football stars showed their natural skills and outplayed the defense line. All the shots they took were on target, opposition goal keeper managed to save them.
The Kalutara team’s mid fielder A.W.M.Farzeen dribbled the ball between the opponents and none of them could stop him. Farzeen ended up one on one against the goal keeper but failed to finish the movement with a goal. Afeez Olayemi played the smoothest game without any pressure and had his shots straight to the post.
Negombo Youth led by former Sri Lankan winger Chathura Gunaratne did not give up till the last whistle. Though they did not show a good game in the first half they bounced back in the second half with a solid goal right-winger Nimal Fernando was running up and down with perfect crosses right to strikers head. Defenders Dulaj Peiris and Samanth Perera were lacking communication and understanding during the game. It was a huge advantage for the Kalutara lads.
Arubisha O.Daniel of Blue Star took the ball from the half line to the penalty box and shot the ball which was punched by Chrishan Fernando. The rebound was collected by defender Dulaj Peiris who failed to clear the ball and it ended up as an own goal in the 24th minute. Goal keeper and the defenders did not have a mutual understanding to rescue the goal.
Blue Star led the game at the lemons 1-0.
An unexpected come-back from the Negombo Youth players in the second half shocked the boys from Kalutara. The entire game was controlled by the Negombo Youth skipper Chathura Gunaratne. The skipper’s combination with the strikers and the wingers confused the opposition defense line. Blue Star were under pressure as the ball was roaming around the Negombo youth players feet in their half for a long time.
Nimal Perera crossed the ball right opposite to the goal post which helped striker Pradeep Fernando to head the ball but could not score. Though Blue Star strikers tried their level best to attack Negombo Youth defenders did not let them move with the ball. In the 79th minute winger Nimal who went through the defenders easily lobbed the ball to the striker. Inoka Suranga did not fail to score the goal with a header Negombo Youth equalized the game 1-1.
Referee blew the final whistle and the match and a penalty shootout ensued to determined result.
Blue Star won the toss and started the penalties. First four penalties were successfully booted and the last one was missed. Negombo Youth missed the first and the last penalty. At the end Blue Star SC won with 4 penalties to 3.
