Matara City down Crystal Palace; Army and Saunders in close wins

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Matara City defeated Crystal Palace on penalties while Army SC and Saunders SC had close wins against Nandimithra SC and Comrades SC respectively in the Cargills Food City FA Cup, Round of Last 32 matches.

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Comrades take Saunders to the limit

Comrades SC took 21 times FA Cup winners Saunders SC to penalties only to lose 5-4, as the Price Park boys survived a mighty scare at the Vincent Dias Stadium, Badulla.

The match ended goalless and it needed a save from last year’s Sri Lanka U19 goalkeeper Rasik Rishad, for Saunders to qualify for the pre-quarter final.

Video credits: Saunders Sports Club

 

Matara City edge high riding Crystal Palace

Matara City defeated Crystal Palace 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 at full time at the Uyanwaththa Stadium, Matara.

Crystal Palace, who finished 5th last year in the Dialog Champions League, were favourites coming into the match against Matara City, who struggled in the same competition, and barely survived from being relegated.

However it was Matara City who scored first in the 21st minute through D.B.Weerappuli but Dammika Ekanayake managed to equalize 15 minutes later, as they went into half time 1-1.

Crystal Palace even without their midfield lynchpin, Jean Francois managed to create the pressure but both sides finally had to settle the match through penalties.

It was Matara City who held their nerve in the shootout with D.P.Devanarayana, M.G. Dinesh, G.N.Ranasinghe and Weerappuli scoring and for the visitors only Khalid Azmil and Isaac Aba managed to find the net, as Matara City won 4-2 on penalties.

Sanjeev leads the demolition of Liver Pool SC

Former Sri Lanka striker Shanmugaraja Sanjeev scored two goals as Police SC defeated the little known Liver Pool SC 4-0 with ease to qualify for the pre-quarter finals.

Police, however only led 1-0 at halftime through a Y.M.Hettiarachchi goal in the 37th minute.

Police pilled on the pressure in the 2nd half with Sanjeev scoring in the 57th minute and A.A.Ranish extending the lead to 3 in the 62nd minute.

Sanjeev sealed off the game five minutes from time with his second and his team’s 4th goal.

Army SC scrapped through against Nandimithra SC, in a match where the FA Cup specialists, Army were favourites to win the encounter easily at their home ground in Diyagama. It was their ever reliable Mohamed Issadeen who gave them the only goal in the 28th minute while Nandimithra SC battled admirably well.

Navy v New Youngs & Air Force v Negombo Youth hampered by rain

The two matches had to be called off at half time as a thunder storm swept through the Kelaniya – Welisara area.

Both matches will be recommenced from 2nd half on the 4th of May.

Navy v New Youngs – Navy Base, Welisara – 4:00pm

Air Force v Negombo Youth – Kelaniya Football Complex – 3:30pm