A brace by Mohammed Issadeen took Army one step closer to another FA Cup as they defeated Colombo FC 2-1 in an exhilarating Cargills Food City FA Cup semi final played at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Coming back from injury, Issadeen scored in the opening few minutes of each half and even though Ahamed Shazny reduced the deficit in the second half, Colombo FC lacked the killer instinct as they lost their star player A.C. Frank due to a serious knee injury.
Issadeen the Tormentor
It was Colombo FC who started off brightly as they played with a high tempo and pressed high up the pitch without allowing Army players to settle down. It almost paid dividends as Army lost the ball in the midfield and Frank sent a through ball for Mohammed Rifnaz but Army captain Bandara Warakagoda slid into make a brilliant tackle to deny Rifnaz the opportunity. There after Colombo FC had a couple of corners but Raumy Mohideen’s deliveries were not upto the mark.
Against the run of play Army took the lead in the 6th minute when Issadeen got hold of a long ball over the Colombo FC defense line from Army’s own half towards the box and he lobbed it over the on rushing Mohammed Imran from the edge of the box which bounced once before going over the goal line.
That goal did not hamper the attacking instincts of Colombo FC, moreover it fueled them on and minutes later Frank was put clean through but his effort was a tame one which was easily collected by the goalkeeper. Thereafter Colombo FC were awarded a freekick outside the box after Dinitri was fouled when he tried to weave pass three defenders. Captain Raumy Mohideen’s curling effort to the near post was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Kumara Sirisena.
Killer blow for Colombo FC
In the 16th minute A.C. Frank injured his left knee when Warakagoda made a hard but clean tackle as Frank tried to muscle his way pass to the goal. The injury looked serious but after a lengthy period of treatment on the sideline he returned to the game but could be seen hobbling around. This was a decisive blow for Colombo FC as they play their game around Frank.
A boost of energy could be seen in the Army camp as they dominated the rest of the half and had half a dozen chances to double their lead. It was Colombo FC’s keeper Mohammed Imran who stood in their way making some excellent saves, dueled it out with Issadeen and had a great game. If not for Imran the score line would have been much worse for Colombo FC. Once he tipped a daisy cutter from Issadeen around the post and made consecutive double saves from point blank range.
In the 42nd minute Army again lost the ball on the right side, Rifnaz made good progress cut in and laid it off for Shazny but his shot was brilliantly saved by Sirisena from 6 yards out.
The Comeback Falls Short
Minutes into the second half Issadeen scored his second with some individual brilliance. He chested down a cross from the left went pass a defender and volleyed with his left foot pass the diving Imran to the jubilation of the Army fans.
Frank who was reduced to being a mere spectator after his injury aggravated his injured knee and was finally stretchered off leaving Colombo FC with only a miracle if they were to win the game.
A glimmer of hope was instilled in the Colombo FC fans and players when Ahamed Shazny making up for his missed opportunity late in the first half drilled the ball into the roof of the net which was assisted by Rifnaz. Raumy Mohideen a veteran of 15 years, who had won 5 FA Cups when he captained Ratnam tried to rally his young guns but were denied by the equally impressive Kumara Sirisena who like his opposite number Imran had a brilliant game.
In the latter stages Issadeen was popping out from everywhere in search of his hat trick. This time from the right as he ran down the touch line cut back in but his effort was well blocked by the defense. The match closed down with Colombo FC giving everything they have to score an equalizer but the Army defense held firm.
Special mentions should be made of Army Captain Bandara Warakagoda who was assigned the arduous task of marking A.C. Frank marshaled his men from the middle of the defense and had an outstanding game with clean, hard tackles. For his two goals it is the veteran Mohammed Issadeen who would take home ThePapare.com’s Man of the Match.
