Saunders v Ratnam spices the FA Cup Last 32

The last 32 rounds of the Cargills Food City FA Cup will kick off with a mouthwatering clash between two of the most decorated clubs in Sri Lanka – Saunders and Ratnam.

The rivalry between Saunders and Ratnam is unparalleled. Saunders SC are 16 time FA Cup Champions while Ratnam are second having won the prestigious trophy 6 times. Although the two sides have had a fruitful FA Cup through the years, the last time either side were able to win was back in 2009, by Ratnam. It has been Ratnam who has dominated winning six times from 2000 to 2009. Saunders last FA Cup championship came in 1999 though they were losing finalists in ‘05 and ’07.

However both sides have come under hard times in the past few years, with financial insufficiencies plaguing them and forcing Ratnam to quit the recently concluded Champions League – while Saunders barely managed to avoid relegation with a 17th place finish in the table. Having said that a ‘ Saunders v Ratnam’ clash will most definitely invigorate the two sets of fans as well as the football community.

The last 32 draw was conducted at the Football House with last year’s pre quarter finalists being seeded according to their performance – which meant Champions Army and runners up Blue Star were seeded 1 and 2 respectively.

The 16 seeded teams and their opponents were selected by drawing of lots from the eight remaining Champions League sides (Crystal Palace, Negombo Youth, Nandimithra, Saunders, Java Lane, Pelicans, Thihariya Youth, Super Sun) and the eight sides qualified from the four groups. (Two each)

Qualified Eight Teams from the Group Stage

A1 – Winners of Moragasmulla SC v Jupiters

A2 – Winners of Red Star/Guardians SC v Keteriyans SC/Great Star SC

B1 – Winners of Singing Fish SC Jaffna v Diamonds SC Vadamarachchi/Vallapadu SC Kilinochchi

B2 – Winners of Vinmeen SC Point Pedro v St. John’s SC Mannar

C1 – Olympic SC Ampara

C2 – Winners of Young Lions SC/Nandimithra SC Polonnaruwa v Eastern Eagles SC Trincomalee

D1 – Winners of Mawanella Utd/Rangers SC Matale v Silver Star SC Bandarawela/Young Birds SC Nuwaraeliya

D2 – Winners of Balangoda Ysc/Highlanders SC Ratnapura v Renown SC Hatton/Berat Utd

Last 32 Draw

The last 32 draw pits some Champions League sides against each other including Army v Crystal Palace, Renown v Negombo Youth, Up Country Lions v Nandimithra, Java Lane v New Youngs, Blue Star v Pelicans SC, Matara City v Thihariya Youth, Navy v Super Sun.