Asela Madushan scored a hat-trick for Holy Cross College, helping them to secure a massive 5-1 victory over Wesley College in the Kotmale Chox Schools U19 group D clash, at the Moragasmulla ground.
The boys from Kalutara had an unbeaten record thus far. They received a walk over against Richmond College and draw against St.Servatius’ College. Highlight of this season so far for them was defeating Royal College by 2 goals to nil. Wesley having played only one match is yet to be exposed this year. Their match against St.Servatius’ ended in a nil all draw.
Photo Album – Wesley College v Holy Cross College – Schools Football 2015
Both teams looked rusty upfront, especially Wesley College who failed to control play. Few minutes into the game Wesley started to get their act right and looked threatening for a good ten minutes.
First opportunity was created by Justin Soyza, a deflection sent the ball towards the goal which was sent across by Shamaz Tervin but the goalkeeper was upto the task. That was the only opportunity they got in the first half.
Holy Cross on the other hand enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half. They created chances but failed to find the back of the net. The long awaited breakthrough came in the 41st minute for Holy Cross. Nilesh Kumara chipped the ball over the defense line and Asela Madushan running from the left flank scored with ease. Wesley looked nervous in the field, they were unable to clear the ball from their own half which helped Holy Cross to keep probing at them.
Holy Cross did not take much time to trouble the scores again, few minutes into the second half Asela Madushan struck for the second time in the match. Nilesh Kumara assisting him again, it was almost a carbon copy of the first goal.
Few minutes after the second goal Asela got an easy chance to score his hat-trick but he was unable to find enough power in the shot to go past the goal keeper. Wesley College looked clueless as to what was happening on the field.
Holy Cross struck for the third time in the 55th minute, this time it was Subash Pingo who gave the ball a fierce drive from outside the box directed straight to the top right corner of the goal. The boys from Kalutara were running away with the game.
Wesley College managed to score their first goal in the 61st minute. It was a lucky break for them, when Arul Joeraj’s free kick found the cross bar and the ball was deflected on to Shamaz Tervin who found the back of the net. It was a sigh of relief for the Wesley camp after seeing the rampage by Holy Cross.
There was a quiet passage of play until Nilesh Kumara showed his class and scored a magnificent goal, taking the ball from the half line going past one defender and then sending the ball through the legs of another to score his first goal of the match. He played a vital role in the midfield, controlling the play right throughout the match.
Then came the magical moment for Asela Madushan; Wesley defender not clearing the ball away ended up giving away the ball to Asela who made it look easy when he bludgeoned the ball past the keeper.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Nilesh Kumara
