Blue Star SC continued their new found red hot form, decimating Negombo Youth 5-0 at the Vernon Fernando Stadium in Kalutara.
Blue Star tuned on a show in the second half after only leading by a goal in the first half with goals coming from Mohamed Farzeen, Yankson Richards, Mohamed Farhath and Mohamed Rifkhan.
Blue Star broke a barren goal scoring spell a few days before this match against home town rivals, Kalutara Park winning 6-0 and were determined to continue this form after struggling in the first three matches. As for Negombo Youth they have had a contrasting season winning two and losing two of which a 6-0 thrashing by table topping Colombo FC.
It was all Blue Star from the opening whistle as wave after wave of attacks bashed the Negombo Youth defense and like in the match against Kalutara Park it was the finishing that lacked with Yankson Richard and stand-in captain Fahir Ali missing clear headers.
Midway through the first half Blue Star scored the opener when a mistake by goalkeeper Vimukthi Maduwantha let Degni Abraham cross the ball into the path of Farzeen who struck it on the volley. Initially it was a through ball into the penalty box by Richards which was well covered Vimukthi against the on rushing Abraham but he fumbled the ball and seeing the goalkeeper way off his line Abraham had the presence of mind to pick out Farzeen in front of the goal for the finish.
After missing a couple of chances Richards was reluctant in taking efforts on target after being in good positions to score as Blue Star went into half time with just a goal to show for all the chances they created.
With three minutes into the second half a defensive error by the visitors gifted the second for Blue Star. A goal kick was by Rifkan was headed back towards the penalty box by E.B.Channa and while Mohamed Nuskan and Rajaratnam Minon left it for the other to clear, Mohamed Farhath raced in between to shoot on the volley past a helpless goalkeeper.
Rangana Silva, who had an excellent game in midfield creating chances and controlling the game, was the architect of the third as his ball over the defense found Channa who cut it back in from the byline for Richards power it to the roof of the net on the volley.
Channa was again the creator as his corner kick found Rifkan at the near post as his flicked header squeezed past the goalkeeper for the fourth goal in the 80th minute.
Four minutes later Farzeen added his second when substitute Shifakath Rahuman sent a through ball into the box where Farzeen shot over the on rushing goalkeeper to end another satisfying day for Blue Star having now scored 11 goals in the last two matches.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Rangana Silva
“Team work and unity is the main reason for our good form now. After the first few matches we saw we needed to add another striker and it has worked in the past two matches. Our main gift is from God and support from the fans. Eyeing the Championship now,” assistant coach Mohamed Pichay told ThePapare.com after the match.
