Army SC claimed their 2nd FA Cup trophy in three years as a first half brace by Sajith Kumara defeated Blue Star 2-0 in the final at the Sugathadasa Stadium which was packed to the rafters.
Army produced a performance full of attacking intent and verve to fully deserve this historic win against Blue Star, who had their Nigerian defensive stalwart Nasiru Opayemi suspended for the final. This was Army SC’s fourth trip to the finals of the FA Cup where they were beaten on penalties by Ratnam and Navy in 2009 and 2012 respectively while they won in 2011 defeating Don Bosco 2-0.
Sajith Kumara headed in from the near post 24 minutes in from a Issadeen bicycle kick and ten minutes later doubled the lead firing a daisy cutter past keeper Manjula Fernando off a rebound.
The lead up
Army’s road to the FA Cup Final started from the Pre Quarter final where they played a thriller against Solid SC. The scores were 3 all at full time but they won 4-3 on penalties. Army who were minus Issadeen and Madushan De Silva had another nail bitter in the quarter final when they were again taken into penalties by little known SLTB side. Kumara Sirisena’s goalkeeping heroics sent them to the semi finals. Issadeen returning from injury scored a brace as they defeated Colombo FC 2-1 to book a place in the final.
Blue Star also had an outstanding Dialog Champions League with a superlative defensive display. They were beaten 1-0 by Renown in the semi final of that tournament. However they avenged that defeat in the pre quarter final of the FA Cup when they beat Renown with the same scoreline. Blue Star eased through to the semi final with a 3-0 win over Don Bosco. In the semi final they were taken into a penalty shootout by Navy SC but Captain Manjula Fernando stood firm as they won 3-1 on penalties.
Kumara’s starry night
Blue Star unsurprisingly tried to take the initiative early on and enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges – Afeez Olayemi forcing Kumara Sirisena to clear a dangerous cross after working space on the left-hand side before the Army goalkeeper saved Arubishan Daniel’s effort shortly afterwards.
Against the run of play Army’s ace striker Mohammed Issadeen produced a moment of magic to assist the opening goal for Kumara. His initial touch from a cross over the defense seemed to be too much which sent the ball away from the goal but Issadeen produced a pin point bicycle kick into the six yard box where Sajith Kumara was positioned and Kumara sent the Army fans into ecstacy with a near post header.
The breathing space afforded by the one-goal cushion appeared to free Army from the pressure which has been crippling them in the opening 23 minutes, and Issadeen showed signs of his dead-eyed finishing touch with a fierce strike that was unlucky to crash off the crossbar and another was brilliantly saved by Manjula Fernando from point blank range.
Army doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Kumara drilled home a rebound after the initial shot from Issadeen was blocked by Blue Star goalkeeper, silencing the majority of the Blue Star fans who have travelled all the way from Kalutara. The goal was just reward for Army, whose drive and intensity was in sharp contrast to the desperately lackluster display served up by Blue Star as they ended this campaign empty-handed.
Blue Star seeing blue
And when this final is remembered, the performance of Army’s Sajith Kumara will be recalled alongside Issadeen’s assist after a magnificent, and close to unplayable, display of wing play which gave Blue Star defender Mohammed Ramees a harrowing evening. Kumara was deservedly awarded the Golden Boot award at the presentation ceremony. The lads from Kalutara was visibly uncertain, lacked communication and leadership at the back without their reliable Nasiru Opayemi who was suspended for the final after receiving an unnecessary red card for dissent.
The Kalutara fans would have hoped for a renewed effort from their side in the second half but for all the hard work done by Afeez Olayemi it was in vain as he lacked support from his team mates and he was also heavily marked by the Army defense marshaled by Captain Bandara Warakagoda. Blue Star’s only effort was a free kick taken by Olayemi which was brilliantly saved by Kumara Sirisena diving to his right.
Sajith Kumara had a few opportunities to complete his hattrick but his efforts were denied by the uprights – one from a looping cross into the box, the other from a first time effort from a Madushan De Silva layoff. The score line would have been much worse for Blue Star had it not been for their goalkeeper Manjula Fernando who made a few world class saves and was deservedly named the Golden Glove winner of the Cargills Food City FA Cup while Mohammed Issadeen was named as the Golden Ball winner. FIFA elite referee from Qatar Abdurahman Al Jazeem controlled the game perfectly providing much needed flow to the match.
Speaking exclusively to ThePapare.com Army Captain Bandara Warakagoda, “It was a wonderful game, Sajith played brilliantly. Issadeen even though he couldn’t score played an important role. We wanted to make things right this time after we lost last year’s FA Cup final to Navy on penalties. Credit goes to the team who believed in themselves.”
