Royal College goalkeeper Mushtaq Ramzi made two comical errors as St.Servatius came off with a 2-1 win in the Kotmale Chox U19 All Island Football Championship group D encounter.
Royal created chances and dominated the first half but were unable to show the dominance in the score sheet while in the second half the lads from Matara played well with Mushtaq letting the ball bounce over his head for the first goal. Naveen Jout’s wonder strike close to full time seemed to have rescued a point for Royal but another Mushtaq mistake from a corner gifted the second.
St.Servatius’ were playing their first match of the tournament while the Reid Avenue boys were on the back of a crushing 5-0 loss at the hands of Zahira College in the opening fixture of the tournament, looking to bounce back well.
The determined Royal attack dominated the first half with possession and chances but lacked the finishing in the final third. Royal’s offensive threat came from the right with Mohamed Thanzeel and Saajid Haseemdeen combining well with Naveen Jude.
Thanzeel early on had his effort blocked while Captain Tahiru Gunasekara fired over. Mohamed Shakir had the chance to make it 1-0 but his fierce effort was saved by Eshan De Silva. Junior National, Naveen was the main threat for the lads from Matara as he tried to make decisive plays. However the defense was able to clear the danger.
Naveen danced his way to the byline and cutback in for Sarvesh Yogendran, whose first time effort sailed well over the crossbar. Thanzeel and Sajid made a slick one-two move inside the box and the shot was deflected off for a corner. The resulting corner was blocked and then cleared away by the defense.
Towards the end of the first half St.Servatius got some rhythm into their game and had the ball in the back of the net, but was deemed offside. Mushtaq almost let in a goal from a free-kick when he let the ball bounce in front of him which went over his head only to be saved by the crossbar.
Stern words by Coach Indika Thenuwara galvanized St.Servatius in the 2nd half as they put the hosts under pressure from the onset. Once again the goal frame came into Royal’s rescue when Alanka Nirvinda’s diving header from a cross bounced off the near upright. The visitors had a free-kick near the penalty box and the delivery hit the wall, prompting a handball appeal but the referee waived play on.
Midway through the second half Ramzi made a hash of an innocuous long ball into the box by Pasindu Sahan. Like he did in the first half he let the ball bounce but this time the crossbar was not there to save him as it went over his head and into the goal giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
With time running out, it needed a moment of brilliance from Naveen Jude as he sent in a pelting strike from 30 yards out to the top corner giving Eshan no chance of saving it. Almost immediately he scored the second as he Messi-ed his way into the box but his weak left footed effort was saved by Eshan.
St.Servatius received a corner deep into injury time and Ramzi failed to gather the delivery by Alanka into the six yards box and Pasindu just helped its way from point blank range.
“They are playing without match practice; since A/L’s are near they are staying at home not coming to school and not to practices as well. These guys lack fitness. I expected something more from these guys. In the second half they played after what I said at halftime. Not at all pleased with the performance.” Indika Thenuwara, coach of St.Servatius expressed his thoughts with ThePapare.com
