Close 1-0 win for LB finance
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Y. Sathiskumar, captain of HNB receiving the A Division trophy from George Weerakody, General Secretary of MFA
LB Finance toiled hard to beat HNB by one goal to nil in the final of the A Division Knockout Tournament conducted by the Mercantile Football Association (MFA) at the City Football Complex in Colombo.
HNB mostly comprising of veterans aged over 40 did well to defend their goal in the first half (40 minutes) of the game though LB Finance dominated the ball play. LB Finance had the services of some of the best soccerites who represent Chamipions League clubs like Colombo FC, Renown, Saunders and Java Lane, but were given a torrid time by the HNB veterans who applied five defenders to save the match.
However owing to a misjudgement by veteran goalkeeper S.D. Tillakaratne in the 60th minute of the game substitute M.M. Yogarajah slotted the ball into the net from a lofted cross by A.R.M. Riskan from the right flank to put LB Finance in the lead. Thereafter HNB tried their best to draw level the score through free kicks by Niroshan Chryshantha Abeysekara but to no avail.The champion team L.B. Finance: Y. Sathiskumar (Captain), M.K.M. Hakeem, M. Rizkhan, S.K.L.T. Silva, A.R.M. Rizkhan, M.N.M. Abdullah, P.J. Chaminda, M.C.M. Rizni, Sundararaj Niresh, A.A. Fazlur Rahman, M.N.M. Nuskhan, M. Farood Faiz, T.S.M. Sally, A.H.M. Usman. M.M. Yogarajah.Runner-up team HNB: M.M.M. Mufeez (Captain), S.P. Wickramatillake, A.G. Sasindu, T.P. Agalawatte, A.Anandakumar, S.D. Tillakaratne (GK), I.P. Gunaratne, N. Chryshantha Abeysekara, S.T.I. Fernando, Anton Wambek, L.D. Seneviratne, S. Gunawardena, B.R.A. Preena, R.C. Chaturanga.
Amana Bank easily defeated Sampath Bank by 4 goals to nil in the other final to become champions in the B division which preceded the A division final at the same venue. M.H.M. Sajid scored a goal in the very first minute and scored his second in the 45th minute for Amana. A.I.M. Infaz (31st minute) and A.R.A. Farshad (49th minute) were the others who added goals for Amana.