Blue Star dominated Don Bosco on their way to a 3-0 win in the Cargills Food City FA Cup quarter final match which was played at the Football Complex in Matara.
Daniel and Olayemi flattens Don Bosco
Blue Star’s African combination of Daniel Arubizan and Afis Olayemi were stars of the show with Daniel scoring a brace and Olayemi assisting in all three goals.
Blue Star came into the quarter final with a hard fought 1-0 win against Dialog Champions League runners up Renown, avenging their semi final loss at the hands of the same opposition of that tournament with the same score line. Don Bosco who were also losing quarter finalists in the Champions League survived a scare against Division I side New Star SC in their pre quarter final but won on penalties after the match ended 2 all at the full time whistle.
Blue Star SC coached by former Sri Lankan Captain Dudley Steiwall is known for their resolute defending and counter attacking skills which they amply exhibited in Matara. Steinwall returning from a successful U21 tour to the Lusofonia Games where he was the assistant coach was a live presence near the touchline barking out instructions. Blue Star opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Daniel, their leading goal scorer latched on to a Olayemi through ball and drilled it past the keeper.
Blue Star with the majority of the possession was bossing the match and Don Bosco had no answer to the attacks. 12 minutes after the opening goal Olayemi was again at it tormenting the Don Bosco defense and provided the assist for Mohammed Nafiz to score the second goal. The lads from Kalutara had a couple more opportunities but Don Bosco were lucky enough not to concede and went into half time with a lot to ponder.
In the second half Don Bosco came out with much more purpose and created a few chances but the Blue Star defense was rock solid. In the 77th minute Daniel put the match beyond doubt with his second goal to the jubilation of their fans that had travelled to Matara fromKalutara.
Two first half goals sends Navy to the semi final
Goals by Lalith and A.C. Sameera helped Navy pull off a resounding win over much fancied Ratnam SC at the Prison Grounds in Anuradhapura.
Navy qualified for the quarter final with a 5-4 penalties win over Kalutara Park, while Ratnam who have won the FA Cup 8 times beat the Up-Country Lions also in a penalty shootout after scores were level on 1 all at the full time whistle.
Navy opened scoring in the 19th minute when LG Lalith found the net leaving no room for Ratnam’s custodian to make the save giving the sailors a 1-0 lead. Then the experienced Ratnam side changed their tactics and strengthened their midfielder to go for the damage control but they could not break the defense line to get the equalizer.
In additional time in the first half Navy scored through AC Sameera to make it 2-0 to the disappointment of the Ratnam fans who had travelled all the way from Colombo to Anuradhapura to see them through to semis.
After the lemons Ratnam recovered and entered in to the game with more attacking options but could not score although they managed to play without conceding a goal in the second half.
