A few 5th Round matches of the Cargills Food City FA Cup were held during the week, with the Up- Country Lions and Sri Lanka Transportation Board notching up big wins.
One time FA Cup champions, Old Bens were beaten comprehensively at the hands of the Up Country Lions who beat them 5-0 goals. Up Country Lions played a well planned game with their foreign players to beat Old Bens and now have entered for the Pre Quarters to meet the much fancied Ratnam SC.
SLTB was too strong for Eastern Youth, the only surviving team from the North-East and beat them 5-0. Eastern Youth lost the rhythm of the game as their defenders could not contain the fast paced SLTB forwards.
Solid SC, the Dialog Champions League semi-finalists had a narrow escape when they were drawn by Nandimithra SC. The penalty shoot- out was a ding-dong affair with no predictions but in the end, Solid SC scored all 5-4, to progress to the Pre Quarters.
Matara City SC have also progressed well and will pose a threat to any team as they are advancing in the championship with their African players blending well with the local talent to keep their game alive and effective.
Kalutara Park SC too won against Red Sun SC. The unlucky team was Pelicans SC from Kurunegala who drew with new comers New Stars from Panadura and lost on penalties. They played with 10 men when the former national player Kaiz was expelled with a red card offense that proved costly.
5th Round Results
New Star SCVsPelicans SC1 – 1 (4 – 3)
Colombo FCVsJava Lane SC6 – 2
Matara City SCVsSuper Sun SC3 – 0
Kalutara Park SCVsRed Sun SC2 – 1
Up Country LionsVsOld Bens SC5 – 0
SLTBVsEastern Eagle SC5 – 0
Solid SCVsNandimithra SC0 – 0 (5 – 4)
