Ugly scenes marred the Blue Star vs Colombo FC Dialog Champions League 2018 week 7 game as referee Mohamed Ashad was assaulted by fans during Blue Star SC’s equalizer celebrations. The game was subsequently abandoned with the score reading 1-1 at the Vernon Fernando Stadium, Kalutara.
Kalutara Derby ends in stalemate
Blue Star SC and Super Sun SC played out an uneventful..
Over 2,500 vociferous fans gathered to cheer on Kalutara’s own, Blue Star SC in their top of the table clash against Colombo FC, who have never won against Blue Star in Kalutara.
Both sides struggled to settle down under poor ground conditions with neither threatening on goal in the early going. As the game went on, Blue Star & Colombo FC traded free-kicks, corners and throw-ins while some of the decisions by the referee looked inconsistent.
Towards the end of the half, Crebo Rehoboth, who was making his debut, and Mohamed Rifnaz wasted chances for the visitors with weak efforts while Bodric Dimitri had a corner kick land on the crossbar and going out for a goal-kick. Colombo FC custodian Kaveesh Fernando was tested with long balls & throw-ins into the box which he handled with relative ease.
The visitors who looked the better side in the first half went into the lead when Zarwan Johar got on the end of a through ball and slid it past the on rushing Manjula Fernando.
Half time – Blue Star SC 0 – 1 Colombo FC
The 2nd half started with fans settling themselves on the edge of the outline, creating a tenser environment and a possible disaster in the coming 45 minutes.
Bodric Dimitri came close to extending the lead on a couple of occasions with his free-kicks narrowly missing the target, one hitting the crossbar and another needing the brilliance of Manjula Fernando.
Read More: Colombo FC pummels Super Sun SC
Blue Star players were furious when Ashad blew his whistle, after taking his time, to cut-short a fruitful attack which resulted in the fans getting agitated. This began one of the many stoppages as the referee threatened to walk-off.
Play resumed only to be interrupted once again by fans who were standing too close to the byline. Another incident took place when Colombo FC’s Niran Kanishka was stamped by the fans while trying to clear the ball near the outline. This seemed as if it would be the final play as the referee once again prepared to walk-off but for reasons better known to him, decided to continue play.
Minutes later, Blue Star, who were gaining in momentum taking advantage of the stoppages, equalized through substitute Mohamed Ajhmir volleying past Kaveesh Fernando after a scramble inside the box. This resulted in the fans invading the ground in celebration and amidst the melee they assaulted the referee.
Photo Album – Blue Star SC vs Colombo FC | Week 7 | Dialog Champions League 2018
The match was abandoned, with 12 minutes still to play, soon after the ground was cleared. The Colombo FC players needed an escort off the ground, led by Blue Star players, as some of the frustrated fans turned towards the visitors for retribution.
Match Abandoned (78th min) – Blue Star SC 1 – 1 Colombo FC
Goal Scorers
Blue Star SC – Mohamed Ajhmir 78’
Colombo FC – Zarwan Johar 41’Bookings
Yellow cards
Blue Star SC – Mohamed Irshan 50’, Lahiru Tharaka 62’, B.C. Sampath 70’
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