Mohomed Rifnaz finished off a brilliant move as a rejuvenated Renown SC put a strangle hold on the Colombo FC attack to win a 1-0 morale boosting match in the second of the triple header at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Rifnaz tapped the ball past the Imran after a swift one touch passing move and the Renown midfield worked hard throughout the match, especially in marking Colombo FC captain and playmaker Mohomed Raumi to spoil Colombo FC attacks.
Colombo FC came into the match knowing that a win would send them three points clear of Navy after Navy had drawn the early kick-off match against Java Lane. Mohomed Roomy, Colombo FC coach billed this match as a ‘Brothers match’ match but expected his side to get the work done and get the three points.
“We need the 3 points. We aren’t underestimating Renown. They have good players. They lost against Solid but they are good. Renown’s morale goes down when they conceded early. So we are banking on getting an early goal. Other teams match results have going our way which is good for the tournament.” added the former Sri Lanka and Air Force player.
Renown choose to replace their suspended keeper Vimukthi with third choice and current Sri Lanka U19 goalkeeper Mohomed Usman who after a shaky start had an outstanding game between the posts.
It was a lackluster first half with neither side getting into their groove. Shamil Ahamed was tasked with marking former Sri Lanka captain Mohomed Raumi and he did it with precision cutting off Colombo FC’s supply line.
Colombo FC’s Bodrie Dimitri had the only chance in the first half which he sent wide off the far post.
Colombo FC made a halftime substitution in replacing the ineffective Mohomed Fayasil with Janith Piyumal but it was all Renown who were doing the talking. Fazul Rahuman nearly got the first for Renown when his header from Rifnaz was brilliantly tipped over for a corner by Imran.
Fazal Mohomed dinked the ball over Imran from a Rifnaz pass but he was deemed offside by the linesman. Minutes later Rifnaz finished off a swift one touch passing move which started from Lakmal and Shamil Ahamed set up the on rushing Rifnaz who buried the ball past the on rushing Imran to the jubilation of the Renwon fans.
Rifnaz had another chance but this time he fired straight at the keeper and minutes later attempted a Zlatan-esque flick which went wide. Colombo FC made a few desperate substitutions but it never worked out.
“We showed what we can do. We played as a unit today. We have very good players. Solid defeat is behind us. We played to a plan and it worked. Our objective is to be in the top eight.” veteran midfielder and former Sri Lanka player Fazul Rahuman mentioned.
“We didn’t play the football we normally play. Boys showed a lack of commitment and didn’t click well. Their plan was to stop Raumi. They played a different game to the ones I have seen them play earlier. I tried to change the game at half time told the boys that they are marking Raumi and Dimitri. However others didn’t put their hands up and took on the challenge.” Roomy told ThePapare.com about their side’s defeat.
