Army’s clinical display destroy Colombo FC 2-1
Some clinical finishing from Sri Lanka Army SC stood in stark contrast to the sloppy performance of Colombo FC and sent them charging to a 2-1 victory in their Cargills FA Cup semifinal, played at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
Action at soccer semi-finals yesterday. Pic by Susantha Liyanawatta
M.N.M Ishadeen continued his goal-fest for Army, opening scoring in the fifth minute with a spectacular lob before doubling his team’s lead with another composed finish. M.R Mohideen thrust Colombo FC back into contention with a magnificent whipped strike but it was not enough to prevent them tumbling to defeat.
The finals will see them square off against Blue Star SC, who got through in a heart-stopper against Navy SC. M.N Opeymi rose majestically to head the ball in after eight minutes of the opening half. However, the tide swung swiftly against Blue Star when Prasad Lakshitha equalised in the 72nd minute and O.A Olayemi was shown a red card, reducing them to 10 men.
But Blue Star dug deep and tightened their defence, sending things into a pulsating penalty shootout. There they held their nerve once again and captain and goalkeeper Kumara Fernando saved twice from the spot to help his side to a 4-1 tally and send its supporters into raptures of applause.