Captain Supun Lahiru scored on either side of half time as Maris Stella College defeated Hameed Al Husseinie College 2-0 in the Sri Lanka Schools Association U19 division I final played at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Maris Stella came into the final after defeating St.Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya 3-1 on penalties while Hameed Al Husseinie won 4-3 also on penalties against arch rivals and last year’s champions Zahira College. Both semi-finals were played at the Anuradhapura Sports Complex.
Hameedians edge St.Peter’s in a cliff hanger
Maris Stella were without their main striker in Sri Lanka U19 cap Dilip Peiris who got injured in the semi-final which gave a slight advantage for the hosts, Hameed Al Husseinie.
However Maris Stella did not look as if they missed his services as Lahiru made a mazy run ino the box, going past three defenders but lacked the finishing touch early on in the match.
There after a Kasun Sandeepa free-kick from just outside the box was delivered straight at the Al Husseinie goalkeeper, Murali Dinesh.
The hosts rarely had a chance in the match but Maris Stella goalkeeper Umesh Sanjaya almost gifted them one when he fumbled a routine collection at the feet of an Al Husseinie player but he was unable to convert from an acute angle.
Just before half-time Lahiru was able to give a deserved lead for the visitors when he reacted first to a scramble inside the box to drive home a powerful shot into the back of the net in the 35th minute.
In the second half spurred by the packed grand stand with their fans Hameed Al Husseinie started off the strongest with Mohamed Saajid firing just wide of the post and a few strong attacks putting Maris Stella under pressure.
Hosts could count themselves lucky as the referee only awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box for a hand ball which looked to have been made inside the penalty box. The free-kick did not test the Sanjaya.
Lahiru made the hosts pay for their missed chances when he drilled home, which took a deflection off Dinesh, the second in the 60th minute.
Al Husseinie got a chances soon after but could only shoot wide as Maris Stella held off the challenge to win the U19 Division I championship.
ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Supun Lahiru
Schools Association Best Player of the Final: Supun Lahiru
Schools Association Best Goalkeeper of the Final: Umesh Sanjaya
