Two goals by Oluwafemi Shola and Thakshila Danoj in the second half staged a dramatic comeback as Solid defeated Air Force 2-1 to register the three points and strengthen their championships hopes.
Kavindu Ishan had given Air Force the lead inside the first ten minutes with one of his trademark finishers before two goals by Shola and Danoj near the hour mark turned things around for the lads from Anuradhapura.
Coming into the match Solid were second on the points table having registered 39 points with Colombo FC their main championship rival hot on their heels with 38 points and a game in hand. For Air Force it was all about making it to the top eight and needed a good response after their shock loss to relegation threatened Matara City last week.
Air Force started off in perfect fashion as Kavindu Ishan controlled a searching free-kick from deep with a brilliant first touch and volleyed over the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 in the 6th minute. However it was the visitors, Solid SC who kept on the pressure and created a few opportunities but lack of proper finish and brilliant saves from Shantha Pathum kept Air Force in the lead.
Danoj’s cross from the left was saved by the keeper and another thumping header by Gnanarupathi was cleared off the line by Pathum. Another effort by Gnanarupathi from distance grazed the upright and went out for a goal kick. Solid’s high pressing game were causing difficulties for the Air Force defense and in one such instance Danoj was sent clean through with a lobbed pass but his effort was a tame one going against the goalkeeper.
The first half ended with an altercation when Shola appeared to have shoved Ishan near the byline which the referees didn’t see and failed to handle the situation.
Solid started the second half with renewed energy knowing they needed the win and within ten minutes they were awarded a penalty when Afis Olayemi was fouled by Anjalo Fernando inside the box. Olayemi dribbled his way from his own half leave three defenders in his wake and Anjalo’s desperate tackle from behind could only get the legs of Olayemi. Shola stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to equalize.
On the hour mark Solid took a deserved lead when they went on the counter from an Air Force corner kick where Danoj turned his defender to run half of the pitch and buried it past the diving keeper. Gnanarupathi again had a chance for the third but Shantha Pathum who had a brilliant game replacing Prabath Arunasiri kept the Air men in the game but his strikers failed on the offensive end giving Solid the win.
“We weren’t able to practice much because of the floods in Anuradhapura but we had the belief to make it count. Last year we lost to Air Force and even though we were down 1-0 at halftime we worked as a team to win the match in the second half.” Solid SC captain told ThePapare.com
“Air Force is not an easy team; they are one of the best. We had to play with our senses; we lost a few chances in the first half but in the second half we scored early and made use of the chances and hopefully we can win the championship.” Afis Olayemi told after the victory.
“I totally blame the referees! In the build up to the Solid second goal there was a clear hand ball they failed to see the incident,” a dejected Air Force coach Tuan Raheem added at the end to ThePapare.com.
