Even though Navy equalized the game in the second half, Blue Star qualified for the finals with the help of the goal keeper Manjula who saved 2 penalties in the penalty shoot-out.
The semifinals of the Cargills Food City FA cup tournament between Blue Star and Navy Sports Club was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium under lights. Since it was a night match the amount of the spectators were high and half of them had travelled all the way from Kalutara to support their team Blue Star.
Navy sports club tried their best to finish the match successfully but Blue Star skipper Manjula Fernando did not let them. The sailors were good with their attacking level. Navy had more ball play possession than the Kalutara team in the first half however the twist of the match was when Referee G.N.Rubesh sent off Blue Star’s key player and the goal scorer in the match for assaulting a Navy defender.
Nasiru Opayemi scored a goal in the 10th minute with a solid header right onto the far post to the jubilation of the large numbers of passionate Kalutara support. Ramees’s free kick helped Nasiru to head the ball to the nets. None of the Navy defenders could match Nasiru’s height to head the ball. It was Blue Star who was under pressure in the first half, however they did not waste their chance. Navy S.C did not give a quarter either. They kept on attacking by shots on top of the box. Navy did not use the advantages of the corner kicks they got and most of the corner kicks were out of target.
D.Rathnayaka volleyed a fierce shot from a corner kick clearance which was headed away by Blue Star’s Jayantha Seimon near the goal line. Kalutara boys were not much good with their attacking line. Nigerian strikers A.O.Daniel and Afeez Olayemi did not show up their magic work out like they did in the quarter finals. They had good ball play and went pass the defenders, but they were not successful enough to finish the move with a goal.
Blue Star led the game in the first half 1-0.
Kalutara boys got back to their old form of playing with the start of the second half. This time the sailors were under pressure. Striker Daniel made few crosses from the left side right on to the center of the box. Though the cross was good it was not finished with a goal. Afeez Olayemi could not complete his final touch inside the box as Navy defenders were rushing-in.
Blue Star had more ball play than the Navy team as they played a slow form of game. Navy did not get many chances to get in to the Blue Star defense line. Navy striker Prasad Lakshitha did not have enough support to score a goal. His shots were not on target. Opponent defender Nasiru did not let him pass the defense line. So the only choice Prasad had was to shoot on top of the box.
A few seconds later Nasiru had to come out of the playing area as he had some injury with his knee. Navy strikers used this chance to score a goal. Mid-fielder C.Sanjeewa gave a through pass to striker Prasad who stood one on one against the goal keeper Manjula who placed the ball with a slight touch to equalize the game.
Thereafter every second was a nail biting moment to the supporters. Both the teams started striking to win the game. Blue Star had quick ball play which did not reach the goal. Navy mid fielders played a smooth game after they scored. They did not rush to any ball.
Referee Rubesh had to show the red card to the Blue Star defender Naisru Opayemi for an argument with the referee. The incident which led to the argument with the referee was for assaulting a Navy defender when the game was stopped for a free kick. Referee had to show the red card as Nasiru seemed to have done it on purpose. Their key player walking out of the grounds was a huge loss for the Kalutara boys.
Navy had an advantage of playing against a ten man team. They did not make any use of the advantage. All the shots and headers were saved by Manjula. The long whistle was blown as the match was tied and both the teams had to face a penalty shootout.
Blue Star skipper Manjula made the Kalutara boys proud by saving two penalties out of three while his team mates managed to score all three penalties. Blue Star will meet Army Sports club in the final match of the FA cup tournament.
