Java Lane SC vs Super Sun SC - DCL Stage 6 - City League Football Complex Colombo - 23/07/2016 - Mohammed Abdullah (R) scores his spot kick as Mubashir dives in vain
Super Sun had to withstand some serious pressure from Java Lane towards the end of the game but held on for a crucial 2-1 win at the City League Football Complex in their Group B clash of the Dialog Champions League.
Both teams had had a disappointing group stage going into the game, occupying the lower regions of the table and needed wins to spark any hopes of making the Super 8 stage of the competition. Both teams were boosted by returning players with skipper Mohamed Rizkhan returning for the hosts and Shafraz Kaiz and Bonsu Kwabena returning for the team from Beruwala.
Super Sun did get off to a good start but conceded an early penalty when Nuwan Priyankara handled inside the box after a corner was put into the Super Sun box. The returning skipper Rizkhan missed the penalty however, blazing the spot kick over the crossbar, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
Super Sun then got themselves the lead when Duodu Joseph played a lovely through ball for Shafraz Kaiz to slot the ball past goalkeeper Prince from a tight angle in the 22nd minute.
Photo Album – Java Lane SC vs Super Sun SC | Group Stage | DCL16
They doubled their advantage on the half hour mark when a brilliant run into the box by winger Shifakath Rahuman was followed up by a lethal cross that eventually found its way into the Java Lane goal courtesy of a deflection off the unfortunate Janith Piumal.
They held their 2-0 lead till the end of the half as Java Lane failed to register a single shot on target in the first period.
Half Time: Java Lane SC 0-2 Super Sun SC
Super Sun picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, passing the ball around nicely and fashioning out some chances which the likes of Shafraz Kaiz and Farood Faiz failed to capitalize on.
Java Lane were then awarded a second penalty, this time when Naveen Jude was brought down by a careless tackle in the box in the 66th minute. Mohammed Abdullah stepped up to take this penalty, and despite the kick being far from convincing, it had enough to sneak past Mohamed Mubashir in the Super Sun goal to pull the game back to 2-1.
This brought the Java Lane team back to life and they really piled on the pressure for the remaining 25 minutes.
Super Sun almost always had 10 men behind the ball as Java Lane threw caution to the wind by pouring men forward as attack after attack was repelled away by an organized defensive unit.
Java Lane eventually ran out of steam and time as Super Sun held on for a morale-boosting 2-1 win on the road.
Full Time: Java Lane SC 1-2 Super Sun SC
ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Teo Daniel (Super Sun SC)
Speaking to the newly appointed Super Sun coach Augustine George, he had this to say after the game;
“Today we had all our senior players out on the field and we were really going for the win. If that penalty had been scored I think we may have been under a bit of pressure, but I still think we could have come back to win. Really proud of the way we defended in the last 15 minutes, we showed real unity there. No such thing as an easy game, we can’t underestimate our opponents, but hoping we can win the last 2 games.”
Goal Scorers
Java Lane SC: Mohammed Abdullah 66’
Super Sun SC: Shafraz Kaiz 22’, Janith Piumal 30’ (OG)
