Rahula lead 2-1 followed by hullabaloo
Spectator intervention prevented a result being reached in the 17th Golden Pennant Football Encounter between Rahula College and St. Thomas’ College Matara. Rahula were in the lead with two goals to one at the time of the stoppage.
The annual football encounter was hosted by St. Thomas’ College and played at the German Sri Lanka friendship football ground at Uyanwatta on Friday evening.
Spectators intervened when the referees disallowed would have been an equalizer scored by St. Thomas’ College when a player spotted offside at a crucial moment.
With approximately 12 minutes of the game remaining the officials were unable to continue due to the controversy. Referee Indunil Ediriwickremasuriya said that a result could not be given as approximately twelve more minutes of play remained and confirmed that Rahula led two goals to one when the interruption occurred.
As the barrier erected by the organisers was less than a metre away from the line the spectators encroached the space in between and even spilled on to the playing field in places as the game progressed hampering the line judges from carrying out their duties. The attempts made by the organisers and the police officials on duty to keep the lines clear were not futile.
Vice captain Vinuka Sameshana opened the score for Rahula in the 27th minute of the game while Reshan Brian Weerapulli scored the second goal for Rahula eight minutes later to see Rahula lead two goals to nil at half time.
STC skipper Dilshan Tharaka made it 1-2 through a penalty 29 minutes in to the second half.
The Thomians may have equalized six minutes later if a player was not ruled offside when Tharusha Biyanka managed to get a free kick past goalie Pramuditha Madihahewa.
With a result not being reached in this game the series stands level with eight wins each.
A.A.T.P. Kumara, W.M.S. Jayalath, M.U.S. Kumara and Indunil Ediriwickremasuriya officiated