Royal College Colombo v Rahula College Matara - Schools football 2016 - Cooray Park - 27/6/ 2016 - Royal skipper Chathura Avishka making an interception in midfield
Points were shared between Rahula College Matara and Royal College Colombo in a scrappy group stage encounter in the Kotmale Chox U19 Schools Football Championship, worked off at Cooray Park.
The Royalists came into this game with a loss and a draw to their name as they were in a must win situation to have any hopes of progressing to the next stage of this year’s competition. Rahula College themselves have only mustered a single win in their games so far against Ananda College.
However, regardless of the situation both teams took a cautious approach to the game as they were content with clearing their lines on the final third unsettling either side’s rhythm.
Naveen Jude of Royal who is featuring for Java Lane in this Champions League offered the only bit of substance for the Royalist as his quick feet and dazzling control proved to be menacing for the boys from Matara.
Nalanda edge St.Thomas’ in a seven goal thriller
Notwithstanding his best efforts, the Royalists went into the hut on level terms as Rahul managed to hang on although their defending was questionable at times. On the flip side the Royal defense was untroubled for the best part of the game despite a rare opportunity in which Janith Jayawardana headed over an inch perfect cross from the right by Kaveen Palliyaguru.
The second half was pretty much a similar as the first as both teams continued to be inconsistent in their attempts to grab the opener.
Naveen along with his skipper Chathura Avishka only managed to test the Rahula keeper from distance from which he made very fair weather handling the shots comfortably.
The most telling chance came during the last 10 minutes of the game when skipper out in a delicious pass into the box to find Ashraff Iqbal who smashed his effort on to the bar only for Naveen to smash the rebound miles away from the target.
Hameed Al Husseinie edge out Royal
As fatigued plagued the latter stages of the game chances became few and far fetched with both sides deciding to sit deep to deal with any sort of danger.
Naveen Jude provided any sort of threat for the Royalists as for the Rahula lads their keeper Gavindu Yeshan proved to be clinical in his handling, keeping the Royalists out from short and long range.
Both teams will have their work cut out for their remaining fixtures as nothing short of victory will assure them hope of qualifying for the knockout phase.
ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Gavindu Yeshan (Rahula College)
