Colombo FC defeated Blue Star once again, this time courtesy Bodrie Dimitri brace on the opening weekend of the Dialog Champions League 2015 as football returned to the Race Course International Stadium under lights, for the first time after renovations.
Blue Star were looking for revenge for the FA Cup final loss at the hands of the same opposition a couple of weeks earlier but Colombo FC outsmarted them in the 2nd half with Dimitri scoring the first midway through the half and adding the second near full time.
Blue Star were rocked by the departure of their captain Mohamed Ramees just before the start of the season, who joined rivals Colombo FC but managed to sign key two former Sri Lanka players in veteran striker EB Channa and Shivanka from Super Sun SC. Colombo FC acquired the services of former Sri Lanka U19 captain and Manchester United trainee Zarwan Johar while Blue Star got back Nasiru Opayemi after a six month injury lay off. 
“Players and team is in good shape. There will be tactical issues which will be rectified as the match goes on. Ramees will be starting while Zarwan will come off the bench,” Colombo FC coach Mohamed Roomy told before the match.
“I took over the side a couple of weeks ago but they are experienced players, so i only need to give them a tactical plan. They are capable players. Very happy to have a fan-base like this and my ambition is to give a very good treat for them. We have a good bench with me and because of that less pressure on me,” newly appointed Blue Star coach Laksiri Senevirathne told ThePapare.com.
Blue Star started off the match on a positive note passing the ball around and having majority of ball possession. Yankson Richard had a chance to take the lead but was denied when his close range header bounced off the near upright early on while captain Mohamed Najeem firing over on the volley.
As the match went on Colombo FC started to make inroads and had the ball in the back of the net but Danushka Madushanka was deemed to have been offside. Madushanka again had an opportunity to break the deadlock but after making himself some room he shot the ball well over on his left foot.
It was a different story in the second half as the hosts created chances playing on the counter attack. Madushanka fed a through ball to Rawme Mohideen inside the box but goalkeeper Manjula Fernando was alert to the danger.
Minutes later Colombo FC scored the first goal when Rawme played a delightful through ball to Dimitri who foxed two defenders and shot past the diving Fernando at the near post. Rawme’s experience and composure was evident as they took control of the match against the ever so eager Blue Star side.
Roomy brought in Zarwan Johar giving energy to the side and towards the end Colombo FC piled on the pressure. Frank fed Rawme inside the box and he brushed off his defender to send a low cross which Dimitri converted to make it 2-0 on the stroke of full time.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Rawme Mohideen
“Whole 90 minutes we bossed the game. We almost had 70% of ball but didn’t create many chances. Defensive wise we had issues. We played a better game than them. To play into such a rhythm they haven’t been used. When it comes to killer moment the players lost their composure,” a dejected Laksiri added after the match.
“After 10th minute in 2nd half I changed my two wingers’ sides. I wanted to disrupt their play. We had better fitness it showed in the second half. We pressed them high up. We played from out half. Ramees had an excellent game. Zarwan also good chance missed,” Roomy talked about the hosts tactical triumph.
