After 200 matches in the group stage eight teams proved their worth to take the next step in challenging for the 2015 Dialog Champions League. However some were not so fortunate while four teams were demoted to Division I.
Group B
New Youngs SC – 5th
Form guide
What is the cost of an administration error? A place in the Super Eight; yes that’s what happened to New Youngs though they had a good mid and latter half of the group stage.
New Youngs had all two of their defeats inside the first three weeks, though the third week result was a 3-2 win against Thihariya Youth, it was turned over after an investigation found out that New Youngs had played three Army based players; one above what the rules have allocated.
New Youngs went undefeated in their final six matches but it was not enough as they finished one point behind eventual fourth place club Navy SC. If New Youngs had won the match against Thihariya they would have got 18 points and finished 2nd place in the group.
New Youngs missed out on a win against Colombo FC after leading 2-0 towards the end of the match but the hosts battled back to draw in the dying stages. Most famous win for New Youngs in the season was the surprise 5-0 demolition of Navy SC at the Welisara Base.
Negombo Youth – 6th
Form guide
When you are unable to win against eventual top four of the
group, it means you are not good enough for the Super Eight stage.
Negombo Youth struggled against Colombo FC and Blue Star as they were hammered 6-0 and 5-0 respectively while failed to hold onto a 2-0 half time lead as Java Lane produced a great comeback to win 3-2.
Negombo Youth’s defense was abysmal as they let in 20 goals in 9 matches, which is an average of 2.22 goals per match.
Super Sun SC – 7th
Form guide
Backed by strong financial support, the club from Beruwala started off the campaign in emphatic style winning 6-2 and 3-0 in the first two weeks against Matara City and New Youngs.
They sent a strong message across to the other clubs that they are in it for the win along with the acquisition of former Sri Lanka captain and Vice-captain Thilina Bandara and Chathura Gunarathne.
However their fortunes faded rapidly as they could only muster further one win in the next seven matches and that too against relegated Kalutara Park. At home Super Sun had back to back goalless draws against Java Lane and Thihariya Youth which completely demoralized the team.
After scoring nine goals in the first two matches it was the forwards who let the side down only scoring 4 for the rest of the seven matches.
Matara City – 8th
Form guide
Matara City looked relegation threatened from the beginning with the 6-2 defeat to Super Sun in the first week.
They too lacked goal scoring touch up front with 11 goals in 9 matches. City lost their match against Kalutara Park 3-2 but was awarded the full three points after it was found out that Park had fielded an ineligible player.
They couldn’t even eke out a draw in the group stage but a stunning 1-0 win against favourites Navy SC boosted their morale which helped them defeat Thihariya Youth 3-2 in the final match week.
Inconsistency at the back and up-front were key as Matara City never really got off the first gear in the Champions League and can count themselves lucky not to be relegated.
Thihariya Youth – 9th
Form guide
Thihariya Youth barely managed to stay alive in the Champions League after fortunes favoured them not once but twice at critical moments.
Firstly it was in match week three when they lost 3-2 to New Youngs but were given a 3-0 win after New Youngs fielded an ineligible player. The second did not involve them but the decision mattered whether they would be relegated or not.
It was the match where Kalutara Park won 3-2 which would have meant that Park leap frogged Thihariya Youth and out of relegation zone. However another ineligible player matter reversed the win and went in favour of Matara City.
Kalutara Park – 10th
Form guide
Poor defense paved way for a miserable campaign for Kalutara 
Park which resulted in them getting relegated to Division I.
Park conceded 26 goals in their 9 matches at almost three goals per match. Administration errors too didn’t help as their 3-2 win against fellow relegation threatened Matara City was over turned.
But that would not have mattered as even if it was a win they would have fallen one point short of Thihariya Youth.
Don Bosco – 11th
Don Bosco won their first two matches but an investigation found out that they have registered around three players with false names and credentials.
The Football Federation took a decision to immediately relegate one of the more successful clubs and made the results null and void.
