Nuwan Priyankara scored a hat-trick as Super Sun got their Dialog Champions League campaign off to a dominant win against Matara City winning 6-2 at the Race Course grounds.
Nuwan Priyankara’s shot was deflected in early on but was equalized soon after. However Super Sun went into halftime leading 3-1, through goals from Priyankara and Chathura Gunarathne. Right after halftime Super Sun made it 4-1 and never looked back to win 6-2 with Matara City missing a penalty in the latter part of the match.
Coming into the season Super Sun made their intentions clear bringing in big name players as well as strengthening the coaching staff. The Beruwela based side brought in former Sri Lanka skipper and last year’s Champions League winner Thilina Bandara from Solid SC, while former national vice-captain Chathura Gunarathne made his way from Up-Country Lions. Further African striker Victor Okere joined Super Sun from Matara City and Augustine George taking over as coach with the legendary former Sri Lankan player Nizam packer Ali as his technical consultant.
Early on Super Sun got a corner kick which was flapped away by Ayurdeen but only until Priyankara whose powerful shot was deflected off M.G.Dinesh past the keeper at the near post for an own goal. Four minutes later in the 13th minute Johny Jones danced his way into the penalty box and slotted the ball into the net from an acute angle bringing Matara City to level terms.
That was the only bright spot of the half for the Matara side as even though they had possession they were unable to convert chances which Super Sun punished them for dearly. Chathura Gunarathne restored the lead for the Beruwela side with a delightful curling 20 yard freekick in the 27th minute. The goalkeeper was out of position for that where he himself set up to cover the side from which the goal was scored.
Super Sun went into halftime with a two goal advantage when Priyankara assisted himself with a Dennis Bergkamp style back flick sending him one on one with the keeper and calmly put it in from a Victor Okere cross into the box.
Matara City’s hopes of a comeback were quashed when Priyankara scored his second just two minutes into the second half. An unmarked Priyankara directed his header goal wards from a cross from the left to mae it 4-1. Then Bonsu Kwabena made it 5-1 when his mishit sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and the ball crept in at the opposite side.
Matara City pulled a goal back as Emmanuel Philippe took full advantage of a mistake by center-back Tochokeu Francis and scored past the stranded goalkeeper. Soon after Philippe missed a golden chance to score the third when he headed wide completely unmarked from six yards out.
Matara City were made to pay for that mistake seconds later as Super Sun scored the sixth with an impressive counter attack. Priyankara cut inside from the right made himself room near the penalty box and struck a low powerful left footed effort.
Matara City got a penalty near the end but M.G.Dinesh personified his team’s performance on the day sending the ball way over the goal to the delight of the Beruwela fans.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Nuwan Priyankara
“We played well in the 1st half. Not at all happy with the 2nd half performance. This is not the way these guys play. They played in a not so eager fashion. Mentally down after the early 2nd half goal but it cannot be accepted,” a dejected Matara City coach Indika Thenuwara told ThePapare.com.
“Really happy because 6-2 is a big margin. Half time talk was to keep the lead and build on it. Last 20 minutes Matara City started playing when we took it lightly. Forwards did their duty. I took over 2 weeks ago so a lot to improve,” Augustin George coach of Super Sun added to ThePapare.com
