Navy SC and Colombo FC played out an entertaining draw, inclusive a host of missed chances and disallowed goals in a drama filled Dialog Champions League encounter at the Navy Base in Welisara.
Chalana Chameera gave the hosts the lead inside the first ten minutes while Bodrie Dimitri equalized with a wonderfully placed goal midway through the first half. A.C.Frank and Danushka Madushanka missed open goals and a couple of goals from either side were disallowed in the second half as both sides had to settle for a point.
The match was billed as a heavyweight clash with Colombo FC unbeaten in the three matches were heading group B while Navy were in second place having played a match extra with both sides equal on 9 points.
“Today both sides will be playing for three points and our guys are well prepared. Have a tactical plan today, playing Mohamed Sadham who is in his first start. We will be defending the first 15 minutes to get the hang of it,” Mohamed Roomy added before the match.
Colombo FC’s plans of defending at the beginning were put under the cosh with Navy getting into the opposition penalty box creating chances but missed a couple. However in the 8th minute Chalana Chameera gave the hosts a well-deserved lead when he tapped home at the far end from a Nirmal Wijethunga low cross.
Stunned visitors coped with the pressure from there on but with nervous moments and started to get into the match with Momas Yapo getting control of the midifield. In Captain Rawme Mohideen’s absence Yapo did really well defensively to give stability to the inexperienced midifield.
On the ascendency Colombo FC equalized in the 23rd minute when he got hold of Frank’s layoff made himself room to place it past the diving Ajith Kumara to the corner from the edge of the box.
Soon after Frank, the stand in captain missed an open goal to give his side the lead when Ajith Kumara came out of the box to head a ball behind the defense but only until Frank who sent it over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Roomy’s tactic of giving Sadham didn’t pay off as he was replaced by the inform Danushka Madushanka. Madushanka nearly made his introduction count but was denied by brilliant goalkeeping by Kumara as Madushanka was put clean through.
Colombo FC continued their good run from the latter part of the first half to the second half with Dimitri rattling the crossbar with a thundering volley from the edge of the box. Frank again missed a chance when he bustled himself into the box but his cross goal effort went just past the far post. Frank seemed to have redeemed to himself when he headed in from a cross by Ziya Osman but in the process he had fouled Subash Madushan and the goal was disallowed.
Towards the end Navy threatened to score with substitute Pradeep Perera and Chathuranga Sanjeewa adding energy. Navy too had the ball in the back of the net when Chathuranga Silva rebounded home a Madushan freekick which was spilled by Mohamed Imran but the linesman on the far end had deemed Silva offside much to the disappointment of the home fans.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Momas Yapo
“Initially we dominated but they played well. Nalaka (Roshan) didn’t play as we expected. We had a goal ruled offside which is debatable, but we respect the decision. Last 25 minutes we played really well and to get at least a point is good for the morale.” Navy captain Christeen Fernando told after the match.
“First half we tried counter attacks and Sadham didn’t pressure the defense as much as I expected that’s why I sent in Madushanka. Today Frank’s touches were very poor considering how good the pitch is. He should have scored a few.” Roomy added.
