Rathmalana United and Friends SC booked a place in the FA Cup round 2 after 3-1 and 2-1 wins against Real Panadura and Katukurunda SC respectively.
Friends SC v Katukurunda SC
Friends went into a 2-0 lead and even though Katukurunda pegged a goal back it was not enough as Friends held on for the win.
Both sides took longer than expected to settle down under the scorching heat and it was the experienced Katukurunda SC who started to make a move.
However the youthful Friends quickly turned things around led by their playmaker Mohamed Irshad.
Irshad midway through the first half gave Friends the lead with a thrilling strike. He found himself in space 30 yards out and powered a blistering left footed effort which bounced in front of the diving Katukurunda goalkeeper and crashed into the net.
Friends tested the goalkeeper with a few long range efforts out of which one just missed the left top corner from Mohamed Rifas.
Friends kept their momentum and doubled the lead minutes into the second half when Rifas tapped in from close range after a cross found Mohamed Nasrin who danced his way to the by-line and cut-back in for Rifas.
Mohamed Infas near the end saw his ambitious effort palmed away to the crossbar by Dinesh Susantha, what would have been a magical strike.
With minutes remaining Katukurunda scored to make it 2-1 through Nirmal Perera but were unable to find the equalizer.
Rathmalana Utd v Real Panadura
Rathmalana United shook off the early sluggishness to clinch a place in the 2nd round defeating Real Panadura 3-1.
It was Real Panadura who got the first opportunity when they disposed a United defender but the effort went wide.
It did not take the hosts to assert their authority as a free-kick from 25 yards out deflected off Gayan Ekanayake which wrong footed the goalkeeper and crashed into the net.
It was 1-0 at half time but United quickly made it 2-0 through Srinath.
It looked as if Real Panadura would mount a comeback when an exquisite free-kick from 20 yards out sunk into the top right corner but United managed to get the third when M.S.Silva slotted home near the end to clinch victory.
Other Results
Group A
Qualifying Round
Youth SC 3-0 Samanala SC (Ambalangoda)
1st Round
Golden Eleven (Biyagama) 4-2 Mahara Youth SC
Piliyandala Town SC 4-0 Moratu FC
Rahura SC (Ambalangoda) 3-0 Youth SC (Ambalangoda)
Rantharu SC (Galle) 7-2 Nugaduwa United SC (Ambalangoda)
Group B
Qualifying Round
Young Henricans CS (Valikaman) 3-0 Kuppilan Kurunchikum SC
Mohammadiya SC (Trinco) 3-0 Williams SC (Trinco)
Eastern Eagle SC (Trinco) 0-0 (6-5) Victory SC (Trinco)
1st Round
Grown Star SC (Mannar) 2-1 Thal. St. Anthonys SC Mannar)
A’puram. St. Anthonys SC 2-1 Vidathaltive Utd SC
Group C
1st Round
Brave Hearts SC (Wennappuwa) 2-0 Wimblendon SC (Puttalam)
Group D
1st Round
Dynamic SC (Gampaha) 2-2 (3-2) Galloluwa Youth SC (Diulapitiya)
Leo SC (Kurunegala) 3-0 Millenium SC (Kurunegala)
