Matara City’s striker O.V. Ikenna was the main architect as his side made a rousing second half comeback to defeat Police SC 2-1 and enter the FA Cup quarter finals.
Police started off brightly at Kew Points road and went into half time with a Rajitha Jayavilal penalty. Even with major possession in the second half Police weren’t able to capitalize on the opportunities as their indiscipline let Matara City into the game and eventually score two goals after Jayavivlal was red carded.
It was a quiet first 20 minutes as both teams took the conservative approach in this pre quarter final encounter. Fortune was not in Matara City’s side in the opening half as Police were awarded a penalty for a handball in the 21st minute. Matara City’s goalkeeper Prince misread a Rajitha Jayavilal cross and the attempted clearance was struck on the hand of a City player inside the box. The resulting penalty was drilled down the middle of the goal by Jayavilal to give Police a 1-0 lead.
Matara City were awarded two free kicks towards the end of the first half but were unable to convert the chances as Police went into half time with a 1-0 lead.
Early on in the second half Police SC had the majority of the possession but couldn’t penetrate the Matara City defense and the small opportunities they had, were unable to make use of them.
One of which was a header by Nilantha Pathirana from a corner which went past the left upright and another huge opportunity when sloppy defending by Matara City let in Nilantha who rounded off the charging keeper but no Police player was there to convert his cross across the goal. The luck which was not there for Matara City was there in the second half.
In a crucial moment in the match when Matara City was looking to take control of the match, Ikenna was rashly fouled by Jayavilal who received his second yellow and Police was left to play the remaining 30 minutes with 10 men. City took great use of the extra man as W. Ranansinghe headed home the equalizer in the 65th minute. And the winner was scored by Kwabena in the 80th minute after Ikenna did fabulously to outwit three defenders and lay it for Kwabena to drill the ball into the back of the net.
