Colombo FC moved back to the top of the Dialog Champions League 2018 points table securing a 3-1 win against Saunders SC in their week 12 encounter played at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Colombo ease past Matara
Colombo FC bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 win against Matara City …
Colombo FC came into this clash in 3rd place with 24 points while Saunders were on the road to recovery in 16th place with 8 points from two wins in the last three matches.
Colombo won a free-kick early on and it was struck well into the box by Bodric Dimitri. The effort by the forward inside the box could not be directed towards goal however.
The Colombo lads then created another golden opportunity when Chalana Chameera broke through the defence before cutting the ball back to Mohamed Fazal inside the box. Fazal’s first time finish however was wide of the target.
Saunders almost broke the deadlock when Deneth Sankalpa took a powerful shot at goal, but a good block by Niran Kanishka saw the chance denied.
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Mohamed Aakib kicked off another attack for Colombo, getting the ball to the edge of the box before cutting back to Zarwan Johar who was inside the box. Zarwan’s first time pass found Fazal, whose finish was struck straight at Asanka Viraj.
Colombo dominated the remainder of the half creating a number of chances, but continued to lack the final touch.
Half Time – Colombo FC 0 – 0 Saunders SC
Colombo dominated possession in the early goings of the second half, with majority of the play taking place inside the Saunders half.
Saunders got a great chance in the 52nd minute when a cross by Chryshantha Abeysekara was met by the header of Chamod Dilshan, but headed wide.
Colombo broke the deadlock in the 54th minute after Zarwan set Dimitri off with a good through ball. Dimitri dribbled into the box and from a tight angle had Asanka Viraj completely beaten and the ball seemed to be headed into the back of the net but Fazal smashed it into the back of the net for good measure.
Photo Album: Colombo FC v Saunders SC | Week 12 | Dialog Champions League 2018
Colombo suffered a huge blow when Dimitri, who had already taken a knock in the build-up to their earlier goal, went down again in the 58th minute. Dimitri signaled to be substituted and was helped off the field limping badly.
Sundaraj Niresh almost brought Saunders back on level terms with a strike from inside the box, but a good save by Mohamed Imran saw Colombo keep their lead.
Colombo doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute after Fazal broke through the defence and raced down on goal before cutting it back to Zarwan Johar who rolled his shot past Asanka Viraj into the back of the net.
Fazal got a golden opportunity to kill off the game, but his strike came crashing back off the post. Minutes later Fazal again got an opening when he was set through on goal, but his attempt was saved.
Colombo won a free-kick in the 83rd minute and it was struck brilliantly by Captain Rawme Mohideen right into the left corner, giving the diving Asanka Viraj no chance putting Colombo up 3-0.
Chamath Rashmitha pulled one back for Saunders in added time after he broke into the box and took a shot that beat the onrushing Imran into the back of the net.
Full Time – Colombo FC 3 – 1 Saunders SC
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Mohamed Fazal (Colombo FC)
Goal Scorers
Colombo FC – Mohamed Fazal 54’, Zarwan Johar 73’, Rawme Mohideen 88’
Saunders SC – Chamath Rashmitha 90+1’Bookings
Yellow Cards
Colombo FC – Ahmed Shazny 34’, Zarwan Johar 45’
Saunders SC – Sundaraj Niresh 45’, Mohamed Naleem 85’, Chamod Dilshan 90+3’
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