Skipper Harith Gajanayaka lead from the front with his goal and assist as Royal College defeated S.Mary’s Negombo in impressive fashion at Cooray Park in Wellawatta.
While Royal were coming off a hard fought win over S.Thomas’ S.Mary’s were still stinging from the 6-2 loss to Maris Stella College after leading 2-0.
St.Mary’s started off brightly having majority possession in the opening minutes but a defensive mix-up in the 8th minute let Royal’s Naveen Jout through with the goalkeeper to beat. Naveen ran 30 yards and calmly rounded off the keeper to slot in to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. After the goal Royal settled down started to control the game more effectively. Royal were awarded two corner kicks but couldn’t capitalize on them.
In the 21st minute Jout was again sent through after a beautiful lob over the S.Mary’s defense by Mohomed Sajid but this time Jout’s weak effort was saved by goalkeeper Eranga Fernando. Royal kept taking advantage of S.Mary’s highline of defense as it gave them enough space to work behind the defense with their faster forwards.
St.Mary’s had chances of their own, first of which for Lasitha Fernando who ran to the byline cut in but his effort going across the goal with no one to pounce on it. The other to Roshane Fernando, his free kick was well saved by Mushtaq Ramzi.
Mohomed Sajid had an outstanding game down the right wing creating havoc for the S.Mary’s defense. Sajid created a chance for Mohomed Sashni when he ran down the right, cut back in and his pass across the goal was met by Sashni. However Sashni’s left footed goal bound effort was brilliantly waved by the goalkeeper.
Minutes later another S. Mary’s defensive horror show gave Royal their second. This time it was Haritha who was involved as he skipped past his marker ran down the left and crossed into the six yard box. With no pressure on Nimeshka Fernando poked it past his goalkeeper for an own goal. Royal went into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
S.Mary’s started off the second half positively with chances coming their way but poor finishing let them down. Sumeda Fernando was on the end of a through ball his first touch was a bit too much which let the keeper charge down and make the save. The next also came to Sumeda when a free kick by Roshane Fernando over the wall, he did well to control but his effort was way wide of the target.
S.Mary’s were awarded a corner in the 55th minute which the keeper punched away and Samika Fonseka ambitiously volleyed the rebound effort over the crossbar. Samika was fouled outside the box and the freekick by Roshane brilliantly tipped over for a corner by Ramzi.
In the 70th minute a clinical counter attack saw Royal finish it off with a goal by Haritha which was initiated by him. Haritha tackled a St.Mary’s player in their final third recovered the ball and quickly sent it to Sajid where Sajid made quick one-two passes with Jout and then Jout slipped the pass to Haritha who finished the move beating the goalkeeper near post.
There on Royal controlled the game well without giving St.Mary’s any opportunity and eased to a 3-0 win.
