Hameed Al Husseinie to battle Bens in football final today
View(s):The goals have been flowing thick and fast at the Group of ‘80s Hameed Al Husseinie Inter-school Football Tournament, and fittingly the tournament’s top offensive powerhouses, defending champions Hameed Al Husseinie and St. Benedict’s College, are positioned to meet in today’s final at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Hameed Al Husseinie team
Heading into the championship-decider, the home team is undoubtedly the stronger of the finalists having not simply beaten but completely embarrassed all of their opponents. Their first victory set the tone for their campaign as they dismantled Royal College 6-0.
They continued their onslaught with an equally bruising 5-0 battering of Isipathana and a 4-0 demolition of Hindu College in the semi-finals. Keeping them goalless will be an uphill if not impossible task for the Bens.
But St. Benedict’s have proven that they possess the resilience to overcome, albeit not prevent, a scoring haemorrhage. St. Benedict’s began the tournament strongly with a 2-0 win over Ananda College but were then shoved under the microscope against Zahira College Mawanella.
St. Benedict’s College team
The Zahirians knocked in two goals but St. Benedict’s were able to go one better to clinch the thriller. But they were pushed even further by Maris Stella Negombo. Both teams were deadlocked after regular time with St. Benedict’s unable to score for the first time in the tournament. They were fortunate to get the better of Maris Stella 3-1 during the shootout, but their inability to score will trouble them, especially against a goal-scoring juggernaut like Hameed Al Husseinie.
But St. Benedict’s have stared down the barrel and dodged the bullet against some of the tournament’s toughest opposition, so an absorbing encounter is almost a guarantee. What is also near certain is that there will be goals and a large gathering of fans. Last year saw a near-capacity crowd throng the Sugathadasa Stadium and with the tournament getting bigger and better this year, interest is likely to be more ardent and evident than ever.
The third place match between Hindu College and Maris Stella will begin at 1.45pm followed by an exhibition game at 3.15pm. The Over-40 final between Old Bens Veterans and Colombo Veterans will then be played before the grand final between Hameed A Husseinie and St. Benedict’s College will be held at 5.30pm. The tournament sponsor is The Soho House.