Kasun Silva scored from the spot as Negombo Youth drew 1-1 to dethrone the high riding Navy SC from the top spot in the table.
After having a miserable season Negombo Youth has reinvented themselves with the addition of veteran striker Kasun Jayasuriya and are in the championship hunt along with Navy, Solid SC and Colombo FC. Navy SC is the team to beat this apart from the one loss to minnows Thihariya Youth, Navy has won all the other games, with a stingy defensive record.
Navy made their intentions clear from the onset attacking at every given opportunity. They dominated the visitors in possession and territory.
Ten minutes into the match Navy had their opening goal through Chalana Chameera. Chamika Krishantha crossed the ball into the box from the right and the initial shot was punched clear by Sanira Waas but it fell to Chameera who took the shot from 15 yards out past the diving Waas into the bottom right corner.
Navy under the guidance of Coach Balendra Anthony played a control game, in retaining the ball and keeping pressure on the opponents. The domination of the sailors was epitomized from the fact that Negombo Youth rarely ventured into their opponents half.
Most of the attacks for Navy were down the right flank with Krishantha creating havoc for the Negombo Youth left back. Krishantha had a good understanding with his mid fielders and delivered inviting crosses keeping the pressure on the Negombo Youth’s defense.
Just before halftime Kasun Jayasuriya earned his side a penalty when he went down under minimal contact inside the box. Kasun made most of the contact he got using his experience in getting the penalty. Incidentally this was the first time Negombo Youth had the ball in the Navy penalty box. Kasun Silva stepped up and sent the ball to the right corner with goalkeeper Ajith Kumara wrong footed.
In the second half as well it was the sailors who did the bulk of the attack with Negombo Youth reduced to play on the counter. However the visitor’s defense improved in the second half keeping out the ball from finding the net.
Negombo Youth almost had their second goal when a header was cleared off the line from a corner.
A crucial moment in the game happened at the opposite end a Navy player was brought down inside the box but the referee Sendanayaka Dayan waved play on under heavy protest from the Navy players who wanted a penalty.
With neither side scoring towards the end of the match both teams seemed satisfied with a point each from this top of the table clash.
