Three goals in the space of ten minutes broke the Saunders SC resistance as Colombo FC booked a place in the semifinals of FA Cup with a 4-2 win at Sugathadasa Stadium.
Saunders after almost getting relegated in the league have bounced back well to come into the quarter finals winning 5-0 against rivals Ratnam SC and 2-0 against division I side Highlanders SC in the ‘last 32’ and pre-quarter finals respectively. Colombo FC survived a brutal assault by Keteriyans while leading 1-0 in the ‘last 32’ round and won on penalties against java Lane after it ended 1-1 in regular time.
Colombo FC started the match in dream fashion with Bodrie Dimitri burying a corner to the far post with a brilliant curling effort. A lapse of judgment by R.Perera helped the cause but nothing can be taken away from brilliance of Dimitri.
However the lead was short lived as Colombo FC defender handled the ball inside the box from a corner kick and referee Prashanth Rajkrishna pointed to the spot. Dilan De Silva who is in fine form comfortably slotted the ball into the goal with less than 10 minutes played in the match.
Both sides’ forwards were combining well, with Suntharaj Niresh and Dilan for Saunders and Dimitri and A.C.Frank for Colombo FC, creating problems for the defense. Dilan’s one-two with Niresh saw him go into the box but his shot was just wide. Colombo FC got a couple of corners only to see the headers flying pass the goal. A free kick was awarded and Dimitri tried to curl it, this time to the near post but Perera punched it away in an unconvincing manner.
Dilan and Niresh were mesmerizing for the 20 times FA Cup Champions as they owned the Colombo FC left flank creating spaces and chances at will. Dilan set a through ball to Niresh which was cleared while Niresh almost made it 2-1 only to see his effort get a fingertip save by Mohamed Imran and out for a corner.
On the other end of the field, Perera looked more and more unconvincing with punching balls which should have been gathered and not communicating with his defenders. Colombo FC knowing this weakness tried long range efforts but were unsuccessful.
In the second half Colombo FC created two chances; one cross by Dimitri headed back in by Momas Yapo was volleyed over by Frank and another thumping shot by Dimitri was surprisingly saved by Perera.
Past the hour mark Colombo FC coach Mohamed Roomy made a tactical change in substituting Captain Raumi Mohideen and bringing in Ahamed Shazny and sending Frank to the midfield. It paid dividends as Shazny lobbed through ball was flicked over the on rushing keeper by Dilan Madushanka much to the joy of Roomy on the sideline.
Gaining confidence Colombo FC went on the charge and got their third goal. Dimitri danced down the left wing and crossed it to Madushanka who laid it off to Momas Yapo who sent the ball into the corner of the net.
In the 83rd minute goalkeeper R.Perera capped off his miserable outing giving away an own goal; this was a mistake waiting to be happened from the first whistle. He fumbled an easy cross by Dimitri at the near post and trying to re-gather it flicked it into the goal.
The match was seemingly over but Saunders got a penalty on the stroke of 90 minutes but Dilan’s shot was tipped to the posts by Imran and Sanoj Sameera could only volley the rebound well over. However in the dying seconds Sanoj sent in a cross which was headed in by Mohamed Zahk giving some respectability to the score.
“The tactical change of bringing in Shazny in place of Raumi worked. Soon afterwards we got the second goal. And Frank’s leadership, defense and distribution was also good. Raumi is fasting and because of his age we are protecting him. Shazny is a ball player and we wanted to do some one two football to break the defenders rhythm.” Roomy added after the match.
ThePapare Man of the Match: Bodrie Dimitri
