Kalutara Park went down without a fight to the Slave Island’s own Java Lane when they defeated the visitors 2-0 at Kew Points road.
Java Lane coming back from the scratch as they played this game without their key striker and skipper Rizkhan Faizer who has been left out due to a knee injury which occurred in the previous match against Blue Star.
The overseas strikers made an impact on Java Lanes winning hopes. Both of them playing in the center line gave a boost to the wingers and strikers. Acting skipper Harshana Sumudu led his team to another easy victory at the home grounds. Defensive midfielder Muneer Sally managed to balance both the sides and was outstanding when it came to running up and down the pitch during attacks and defense. Egyptian born left midfielder Mohamed Taaye opened the goal scoring scheme for Java Lane while left winger Mohamed Aleem headed the second goal.
Underdogs Kalutara Park rarely had the opportunity to get closer to the opponents goal line. Even when they had the chance they could not make use of it. Goalkeeper and skipper L. Fernando did the utmost he could do for his team. The others could not keep up to the expectations except for the two foreign players who were unable to perform well due to lack of support.
Well prepared Java Lane stepped on to the field with a winning hope. They could have scored more goals but chances were easily missed. Striker Harshana Sumudu missed two easy goal scoring chances which were assisted by right winger Abdullah and Mohamed Ali. In the 16th minute Mohamed Taaye made a change in the score board. A rebound ball which was shot by Abdullah headed toward Taaye who took his own time to prepare himself and made a volley shot to the nets. Java Lane took the lead 1-0.
Few minutes later playmaker Taaye took another jaw dropping kick on top of the box which was tapped out by the goalkeeper L. Fernando. Saloutho Romeo on the right wing and Elochukwu Bismark on the Left wing for Kalutara Park did not work out very well. The strikers were not helpful enough to end the move the wingers started.
Mohamed Aleem scored an outstanding goal for Java Lane on the 25th minute. A corner kick taken by Abdullah on to the middle of the box which was on point head for Aleem. The ball travelled in such a speed that none of the players expected it to reach the nets.
Java Lane led the game during the breather 2-0.
Walking back on to the fielding refreshing Java Lane had the hope and the chance of scoring more. But by this time the Park boys were full on defending. Only the wingers were on the attacking line. Royal striker Naveen Jude walked in from the bench as a substitute for the Ivory Coast star Edgard Loue.
Naveen created more chances to the strikers from the time he started. His partnership with both the wingers outplayed the Kalutara park defense line.
Taaye missed an open chance in the last few minutes of the game as he was one on one standing opposite L. Fernando. Bad timing missed the chance as he kicked it out of target. If not for L. Fernando Java Lane would have scored few more goals.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Mohamed Taaye
