Visakha Vidyalaya stormed their way past Ladies College in the fourth quarter to set up an exciting 9-7 victory in the 10th M.N. Edussuriya Trophy played at the Police Pool yesterday.
Visakha won the first swimball of the match, as they powered through to find the back of the net early in the game. However, this goal was disallowed leaving the scores at 0-0 much to the chargin of the Visakhian supporters.
Ladies, who were then on the counter attack led by Dharithri Amarasekara broke very fast as a few quick passes saw the involvement of Prop Lara Modder who eventually set up vice- captain Nidheesha Perera who opened the scoring with a beautiful shot that found the left bottom corner of Maneka Dedigama’s goal.
Varuni Ekanayake, the Visakhian centre who seemed to be the main cog sparring her teammates, fired an ambitious long range shot that failed to find the target. The ‘Ekanayake Sisters’ were definitely proving to be a strong combination for Visakha. Ladies College who were in possession after managed to score their second, and this time it was Lara Modder who powerfully shrugged off her marker and shot powerfully to find the back of the net also giving the girls from Flower Road a two goal cushion.
It was Limashi Kosgodage who opened the scoring for the Visakhians with a super shot from left bar that gave her team much needed confidence as they seemed to be unsettled in the early minutes of the game.
However, Shenara David put Ladies College out of reach again with another blinder of a goal to keep the momentum at its highest for her team.
The experienced Varuni then used the extra man situation for Visakha efficiently as she scored with her third shot of the game, with her second ricocheting after hitting the crossbar just moments before.
Next it was Visakhakian Shaleena Peiris who powerfully found the back of the net to finally equalize.
Ladies hit back through Sashi Weerawarna who splendidly slotted the ball passed Maneka as they took the lead once again. But it was short lived as Tusari scored her second with a cheeky lob over the goal keeper that made it 4-4 at the end of the first half.
Lara Modder and Shenara David set up an explosive start for Ladies College in the third quarter as they raced back into a comfortable two goal lead with the scores at 6-4. However, Varuni coming to the rescue once again capitalized on some bad defending as her successful shot reduced the deficit to just one.
Both teams scored three goals in a ding dong battle however the Visakhians seemed to be the team in control as the scores were level at 7-7 with Aneka Abeywickrama and Limashi Kosgodage(VV) and Lara Modder (LC) getting on the scoreboard.
Varuni scored her third with a brilliant goal that gave the Visakhians the lead once again 8-7, as Limashi Kosgodage hammered the nail in the coffin with another super shot to conclude a phenomenal comeback for Visakha as the scores read 9-7 in favour of the girls in blue.
