Blue Star SC further emphasized their dominance in Kalutara defeating cross-town rivals from Beruwala, Super Sun with a clinical 2-0 win at the CR&FC grounds in the Dialog Champions League.
Blue Star opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime when Mohamed Farzeen headed home a E.B.Channa cross and Channa doubled the lead at the beginning of the second half.
The rivalry between the two sides were intensified as this was a must win match for either team if they were to secure a top four finish in the group and qualify for the Super 8 round. Blue Star were the team in form having scored 11 goals in two matches and drawing their previous match against New Youngs nill all but had trouble with the conversion rate while Super Sun after having a good start to the season had faded away at the business end of the season.
After initial fears of another postponement the match kicked off in acceptable ground conditions where it had rained throughout the morning. It was Super Sun who had the initial say in the match but a forced injury substitution of Lahiru Tharaka changed the complexion of the match. Tharaka was replaced by Shifakath Rahuman and the youngster showed energy and willingness in the field shifting the match towards Blue Star.
Rahuman was always seen with space to run and he completely dominated the right wing creating havoc in the Super Sun defense. However the chances created by Blue Star wet begging as fears once again rose of their poor chance conversion ratio.
However it was all subsided as Farzeen scored the first goal in first half injury time. E.B.Channa who also had a good game danced down the right and crossed to the far post where Farzeen’s powerful header brushed aside a Thilina Bandara block and crashed into the nets, much to the relief of their fans.
Soon after halftime the roles were reversed as Farzeen assisted for Channa’s goal. Rangana Silva found Farzeen inside the penalty box with a delightful through ball and with the goalkeeper Mohamed Murshid rushing forward Farzeen squared the ball onto the path of Channa who rifled home the second sending the fans into a frenzy.
Super Sun had a poor game where they failed to settle down and lacked a decisive pass in the attacking third benefitting Blue Star and much to the credit of the winner they were not satisfied with the two goals and pressed for more even though they did not achieve it.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: E.B.Channa
