Goals from P.A.Tharanga and S. Priyadharshana gave Maroons SC from Gampaha a 2-0 win in the Football Federation Division II Final at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Maroons had met Red Star earlier in the tournament group stage in a close 3-2 win. Red Star were looking to extract revenge in the finale but were out played by the disciplined Maroons coached by former Sri Lanka captain and current selection committee chairman Nelson Perera.
Though Red Star is from the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia league almost all their players are from the Kalutara, Aluthgama area. Red Star was coached by Blue Star SC captain Mohomed Ramees, who has guided the team to the final after a lapse of 4 years. In their group matches Red Star played 6 matches with five wins and one loss. One significant factor is that they met their final opponents, Maroons SC in the group stage and won 3-2.
Their only loss was to Serendib SC 2-1. In the double leg semifinal they defeated Renown SC 4-0 at home. Even though they lost the second leg 2-0 away, Red Star booked a place in the final with a 4-2 aggregate score.
For Maroons SC their only loss was to Red Star while they won their other four matches. In the semifinal leg at home they completely blew away Young Marians SC 11-1 but surprisingly lost the away leg 1-0.
Maroons dominated possession and territory from the opening whistle under soggy conditions which made hard for the players to get accustomed to.
Maroons took a deserved early lead when Tharanga scored from a free-kick. Red Star player fouled Tharanga on the edge of the box and Tharanga’s bullet free kick crashed under the crossbar. As the match came to half time Red Star rallied back but were unable to take advantage from the only chance they had in the half.
In the second half Maroons put the game beyond a doubt when Priyadharshana scored his side’s second goal. Though Red Star lost they qualified for Division I along with champions Maroons SC.
