Amana Takaful ‘B’ create history
Amana Takaful Insurance ‘B’ created history as inaugural winners of the Mercantile Football Association (MFA) Futsal 5-a-side Football tournament 2016, concluded at the Futsal World Indoor Stadium, Darley Road last Sunday.
In a rousing Final, Amana Takaful ‘B’ nudged LB Finance 9-8 on penalties, as the full-time scores stood level at 4-4.
Amana Takaful took an early lead, courtesy two stinging goals by their playmaker M.C.M. Rifnas, and just before the short whistle, M.K.M Shafraz found the net for LBF; Amana Takaful led 2-1 at halftime.
Early in the 2nd half, M.K.M. Hakeem scored for LBF to draw level 2-2. Rifnas scored his hattrick of goals to put Amana Takaful ahead at 3-2. The ding-dong battle continued, as M.K. Fizar scored the equalizer for LBF to make it 3-3; Amana Takaful once again went ahead, when M.C.M. Rizni found the upper part of the net (4-3); just before the final whistle, LBF playmaker M.R.M. Fizar scored a fantastic goalto level the scores at 4-4.
In the penalty shootout that followed, Amana Takaful scored 5 while LBF managed only 4 goals.
The tournament got off to a start on Saturday, December 3, with 24 teams playing in 8 groups, consisting 24 matches; at the completion of the league stage on day one, the following 16 teams advanced to knock-out stage: Virtusa and Lake House from Group’A’; Amana Takaful ‘A’ and Sri Lanka Telecom from Group ‘B’; HNB and Std Chartered Bank from Group ‘C’;
Amana Takaful ‘B’ and Amana Bank from Group ‘D’; John Keells and Ceylinco Insurance from Group ‘E’; Sampath Bank and Softlogic Group from ‘F’; LB Finance and Seylan Bank from ‘G’ along with Expolanka Holdings and WNS Global from Group ‘H’.  - LRÂ
Results:
Pre-quarter final Results:
Virtusa beat Std. Chartered Bank 1-0 (H/T 0-0); John Keells beat Seylan Bank 5-2 (H/T JK led 3-1); Lake house beat HNB 3-0 (H/T 2-0); LB Finance beat Ceylinco 1-0 (H/T 1-0); Amana Takaful ‘A’ beat Amana Bank 4-1 (H/T 3-1); WNS Global beat Sampath Bank 5-1 (H/T 2-0); Amana Takaful ‘B’ beat SL Telecom 6-0 (H/T 5-0) ; Expolanka beat Softlogic 5-0 (H/T ( 3-0).
Quarter-final
John Keells beat Virtusa 3-1 (H/T 2-1); LB Finance beat Lake House 4-1 (H/T 3-0); Amana Takaful ‘A’ beat WNS Global on Penalties, 3-2 (1-1 at Full Time; H/T 1-1); Amana Takaful ‘B’ beat Expolanka 6-2 (H/T 4-3)
Semi Final Results:
LB Finance beat John Keells 3-0 (H/T 1-0); Amana Takaful ‘B’ beat Amana Takaful ‘A’ 7-3 (H/T ‘B’ led 2-1)
In the play off for the 3rd place – John Keells beat Amana Takaful ‘A’ 4-2; the scores stood 2-2 at half time.
Awards were presented by FFSL President, Anura de Silva, FFSL Secretary, Anthony Balendra, FFSL CEO, U.L. Jaswar and MFA President, Saif Yusoof.