Red Star SC v Pelicans SC - Premier League Division I 2016 - Kelaniya Football Complex - 03/09/2016 Orji Rowland volleys the ball into the penalty box.
A surge of 2nd half goals put Pelicans SC ahead of Red Star SC securing them a 3-1 win and a place in the final of the Premier League Division I Tournament 2016 at the match held at Kelaniya Football Complex today (03).
The semi-final kicked off under a sunny sky with both teams under heavy pressure to grab a place in the finals.
Their eagerness was clearly observed by the fact that a hard and pressing game was played from the beginning where each and every ball player was met with a challenge from the opposition. Hard tackles were seen throughout the game where each team tried to deny the others way forward.
Red Star SC’s Aivge Mondesir managed to create the first shiver through the Pelicans defence with a powerful shot towards goal but was to be disappointed as the ball went over the goal.
Both teams went on to try and grab the first goal with the higher number of attempts going to Red Star SC, but were to be equally denied by the strong defence and magnificent saves by both goalkeepers.
Photo Album: Red Star v Pelicans SC | Semi Final | Premier League Div 1 2016
Nevertheless majority of the action of the 1st half took place in the midfield where the game proved to be equally tough for both teams.
The first yellow card of the match was given to Red Star SC’s Mohamed Rikas for a tackle on the Pelicans Orji Rowland in the 11th minute. The tackle was met with angry bursts from the Pelicans fans and the referee did not hesitate to caution Rikas.
One of the easiest opportunities for a goal came when Mohamed Rahman’s attempt on goal was deflected away by the Pelicans’ goalkeeper towards Aivge Mondesir. But Mondesir’s hesitation for a fraction of a second saw his placement going over the goal much to the disappointment of the fans.
The goal draught was finally ended in the 34th minute when Rahman’s cross was headed over the keeper by Mohamed Afrar into the goal giving Red Star SC the lead much to the delight of the home crowd.
The goal had somewhat disheartened the Pelicans lads and it was clearly evident by the miscommunication between the midfield and defensive players in passing.
The first half ended with Gihan Sirisena’s attempt to equalize being denied by the woodwork.
Half time – Red Star SC 1 – 0 Pelicans SC
The 2nd half began with Red Star SC changing into a defensive formation in an attempt to keep hold of their 1-0 lead.
The Pelicans did not seem to have recovered from having to go behind and played a rather sloppy game with bad passes, crosses and low out kicks which were highly disadvantageous to them.
A defensive error by the Pelicans nearly gave the game away when Afrar capitalized on the situation by taking a diving shot from long range which just missed the top bar.
The game changer for the Pelicans came in the form of Gihan Sirisena who jumped high over the Red Star defence to head the corner ball home giving the visitors the much needed equalizer.
The goal seemed to have put some life back into the Pelicans who came back into the game making full use of the pitch playing beautiful football in an attempt to take the lead.
Red Star received their second yellow card in the 66th minute when Mohamed Elahi raised his leg a bit too high hitting Kasun Pradeep in an attempt to win the ball.
Pelicans SC secured their lead in the 71st minute when Shanmugaraj Sanjeew controlled the lobbed pass from midfield and calmly slotted the ball into the goal leaving the Red Star keeper helpless.
Pelicans upped the ante when Chima Potential carelessly conceded a handball, giving away a penalty which Dammika Nandasiri made no mistake in converting into a goal gaining a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute.
Red Star SC tried to make a comeback especially through Mohamed Rahman who made valiant attempts at goal only to be denied the privilege.
Despite their lead, the Pelicans kept on attacking until the last minute unlike Red Star SC where the referee’s final whistle saw them make way into the final of the Premier League Division I Tournament.
Full time – Red Star SC 1 – 3 Pelicans SC
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Gihan Sirisena (Pelicans SC)
Goal scorers
Red Star SC – Mohamed Afrar 34’
Pelicans SC – Gihan Sirisena 62’, Shanmugaraj Sanjeew 71’, Dammika Nandasiri 81’
Bookings
Red Star SC – Mohamed Rikas 11’, Mohamed Elahi 66’, Mohamed Arafak 90’
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