Gateway College Colombo outplayed S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia as they ran riot to win the first annual Neville De Alwis-Ralph Alles Challenge Trophy 5-1 at the Gateway College Grounds, Ratmalana.
Gateway kicked off the first half with attacking intent and completely dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes. They created quite a few chances with some good one touch passing, with Nansika Kaggodaarachchi displaying some good dribbling skill.
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The Thomians then got their first opportunity when Senal De Alwis broke through the defense into the opposition box and looked destined to score. However, Gateway goalkeeper Aaqib Imthiyaz bravely rushed off his line and made the save despite taking a knock.
The Gateway lads mounted attack after attack, with Areeb Niyas getting two back-to-back chances, but both were blocked away for corners.
Gateway struck first blood in the 19th minute when a powerful strike from near the halfway line took the Thomians by surprise and deflected off J.A. Fernando. The deflection left goalkeeper S. Dharmendra helpless as it flew into the back of the net.
Thomas’ responded in emphatic fashion however when seconds later, they equalized at the other end. Captain Shevaan Ebenezar, leading from the front, struck a powerful shot from outside the box that rocketed past the diving Imthiyaz into the goal.
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Right at the death of the first half, Niyas crossed the ball into the box and was met by the header of Nansika. The header came back off the crossbar before Niyas hammered in the rebound to end the half with Gateway in the lead.
Half Time: Gateway College 2 – 1 S. Thomas’ College
Gateway continued their utter dominance in possession in the second half, with their players pulling out many dribbling tricks and skills that seemed to leave the Thomian defense clueless.
A free-kick in the 41st minute saw Dharmendra pull off a good double save. The rebound however, in a cruel twist of fate, found the back of the net through Thomian J. Weeratunga to double Gateway’s advantage.
The Gateway boys seemed hungry for more goals despite being 3-1 up, as they continued to bombard the opposite box with shot after shot.
In the 46th minute, another long range strike out of nowhere, this time by Samunu Kaggodaarachchi, took the Thomians by surprise as it flew into the bottom corner for Gateway’s 4th goal.
Minutes later Binitha Chandrasena showed great skill to get past a couple of defenders before passing off to Niyas. Niyas cut the pass back to Atheek who hammered in the 5th goal as Gateway ran riot.
Thomian skipper Ebenezar struck a free-kick into the box that was hit towards goal but just saved by Imthiyaz, but confusion over whether it crossed the line saw the referee initially point to the center half for a goal before reversing his decision, leaving the Thomians still with just the single goal.
Full Time: Gateway College 5 – 1 S. Thomas’ College
Most Valuable Player of the Game – Areeb Niyas (Gateway College, Colombo)
Best Goalkeeper of the Game – Aaqib Imthiyaz (Gateway College, Colombo)
Goal Scorers
Gateway College – J.A. Fernando(OG) 19’, Areeb Niyas 35+3’, J. Weeratunga(OG) 41’, S. Kaggodaarachchi 46’, Areeb Atheek 51’
Thomas’ College – Shevaan Ebenezar 19’
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