University of Jaffna (UOJ) defeated University of Peradeniya (UOP) to win the 2017 Inter University Football championship at the Vincent Dias Stadium, Badulla.
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UoJ won the final 1-0 to become the champions for the 13th time in 19 tournaments. They won the title in 1979, 1980, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 & 2017. UoJ were runners-up in 2010 & 2015 while in 1977, 1982, 2004 & 2012 they were placed 3rd.
In the semi-final, the two heavyweights UoJ and University of Moratuwa (UoM) clashed and at the final whistle neither team was able to score. In the penalty shootout UoJ won 4-1. In the other semi-final UoP won 4-3 on penalties against University of Sri Jayawardenapura (UoSJ) after it ended 1-1 at full time.
Avenging their group stage loss on penalties UoM won the 3rd place defeating UoSJ 1-0.
University of Jaffna, University of Peradeniya and University of Ruhuna were drawn in group A. Group B consisted of University of Sri Jayawardanepura, University of Moratuwa and Uva Wellassa University. South Eastern University, Eastern University and University of Rajarata were in group C and group D, the group of death, included University of Colombo, Sabaragamuwa University, Wayamba University and University of Kelaniya.
UoJ and UoP booked quarter final places from group A. UoM & UoSJ qualified for the quarter finals from group B while South Eastern University and Eastern University qualified from group C.
From group D, Sabaragamuwa University went undefeated and qualified for the quarter-finals. Wayamba University shocked University of Colombo (UoC) 2-1 but since University of Kelaniya won against Wayamba, UoC became the 2nd team to book a quarter-final place from group D.
In the quarter finals UoSJ defeated UoC on penalties after it ended 1-1 at full time. The quarter final match between South Eastern and Jaffna was a lively affair with scores reading 2-2 at the end of the 90 minutes. However, in the penalty shootout Jaffna won 4-2.
In the 3rd quarter final Sabaragamuwa University scored in the first half but UoM equalized deep into injury time to take the match into a penalty shootout where the lads from Moratuwa were able to secure the win. In the 4th quarter-final UoP defeated Eastern University 3-2 in an entertaining match.
