Nandimithra no match for Lions
A hat-trick of goals by R.M. Rajapaksha and a double from Patrick Wilson steered Upcountry Lions to an emphatic 5-1 win against the strong Nandimithra outfit in a Group ‘B’ match of the Dialog Champion League 2013 football tournament played at Longdon Place yesterday.
Newcomers to the competition, Upcountry Lions proved too strong for the much experienced Nandimithra as the winners led 1-0 at halftime. Rajapaksha struck an early goal in the 17th minute to pave the initiative for the winners as his goal was the only one to come out during the first half. Upon resumption Rajapaksha struck twice, in the 50th and 56th minutes to complete his hat-trick before Danushka Weeramanthri put Nandimithra in the picture with a goal, which eventually was their solitary goal, in the 65th minute. Minutes before the final whistle Upcountry Lion’s foreign player Wilson hit back-to-back goals, in the 89th and 91st minutes to complete a massive win. Upcountry Lion’s Wilson and Ishan Kumara were handed yellow cards while Nandimithra’s Sumana Hettiarachchi, Ishan Kumara and Aravinda Silva were yellowed for rough play. Silva later was handed over the red card soon after the final whistle inside the field of play for verbally abusing the referee as he blew no side.
Four other matches which were down for decision, that of Saunders vs Navy at Kelaniya, Super Sun vs Air Force at Beruwela, Blue Star vs Negombo Youth at Kalutara and Colombo FC vs Java Lane at Sugathadasa Stadium were abandoned due to incompatible playing conditions due to inclement weather. According to Football Federation of Sri Lanka officials these matches will be rescheduled.
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