So close but yet so far for SLTB
It was a David versus Goliath battle between Sri Lanka Transport Board and Army SC at Ratnapura in the 3rd Quarter final of the Cargills Food City FA Cup, but in this instance David was not victorious as SLTB suffered an agonizing loss at the hands of Army. SLTB lived upto their pre match hype as a giant killing team show casing brilliant football throughout the 90 minutes.
After the full time whistle was blown with both sides scoring a goal each, the match was decided on penalties and Army won it 4-2.
SLTB has been the surprise package this FA Cup tournament defeating some big teams on their way to the quarter final. In the pre quarter final they created the biggest upset in the Cargills FA Cup 2013/14 when they beat the Champions League Champions Air Force 6-5 on penalties after they drew 0-0 in regular time. As for Army they also had a thrilling pre quarter match and were taken to penalties by Solid SC after the match ended 3 all.
Both had even exchanges during the first half of the game and both goal keepers did their duty for their teams. Army sans their main strikers Mohammed Issadeen and Silva found it tough against the hard defense line of the CTB.
At lemons the score was 0-0.
Soon after the break both teams played attacking football and it was SLTB who found the net through H.N . Jayaweera who found the ball sent through the gap on to the penalty area and collected it beautifully beating the last defense to score the first for SLTB in the 55th minutes of play. Army had no option but to add muscle to their attacking force and equalized in the 68th minute when a cross from Captain Warakagoda was neatly headed by Thiruna Senanayeka to right corner of the to make it 1-1.
The game then became wide open in this knockout match and both teams played some spectacular football to get the lead. Referee Tharanga awarded a penalty without any hesitation when Army forward was brought down in the box by a defender and the penalty was saved by SLTB goal keeper with a superb dive towards left corner and prevented Army taking the lead.
It was 1-1 at the full time of play and ARMY won on penalties 4-2 to advance to Cargills Food City FA Cup semi finals.
Colombo FC romp to a 4 goal win
Colombo FC who are having an incredible season had a convincing win to advance to Semi finals when they beat Matara City Club by 4 goals to 1 at the Jayathileka Stadium, in Nawalapitiya.
It was Matara City who opened the scoring at 6th minute when young striker Weerappully found the net through a beauty to make 1-0 for Matara City. Colombo FC managed to equalize in the 15th minute when experienced Raumy Mohideen made no mistake to beat the Afrikan goal keeper to make it 1-1.
The score was 1-1 at half time.
Soon after the lemons Colombo FC penetrated Matara goal in much more aggressive manner and played some fantastic attacking moves to score as much as 3 goals in regular intervals to make it 4-1.The Matara defense was in disarray and could not contain the game plan of Colombo FC.
The Nigerian AC Frank scored 2 goals at 47th and 85th minutes and Kanishka in the 67th minutes for Colombo FC.
