Slick Renown thump Java Lane to book semi-final place

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Renown SC put five past cross-town rivals, Java Lane, as they booked a semi-final place in the FA Cup with a 5-1 win at the Race Course International Stadium.

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Renown came into the quarter-final after beating New Youngs SC 3-1 thanks to a second-half comeback while Malaka Perera’s late goal gave Java Lane a 1-0 win against Matara City Club.

It was once again Mohamed Fazal who starred for Renown as he set up Job Michael in the 9th minute to open the scoring. Fazal danced his way into the penalty box and squared it off to Michael who beat the goalkeeper Dammika Senarath and a defender to guide it to the back of the net.

Ten minutes later, Fazal etched his name on the scorers list, when he got on the end of a wonderful through ball, nutmegged two, and slipped the ball past the onrushing Senarath to give a 2-0 lead.

Java Lane’s evening got worse as centre-back Chamara De Silva smashed the ball back into his own net, trying to clear a perfectly placed Fazal cross from the right in the 32nd minute.

The Slave Island boys were all at sea against Renown and did well to keep the score at 3-0 until half-time, though it looked like the game was already out of reach.

However, Java Lane started off the 2nd half in an encouraging manner keeping the ball and frustrating the Renown players.

On the stroke of the hour mark, their good work paid off when Naveen Jude, the Sri Lanka U19 striker, scored from close after a cross from the right to give some hope for the Slave Island faithful.

They continued to impress but on the 75th minute, against the run of play, Renown put the game to bed when Fazul Rahuman guided a through ball to captain Mohamed Rifnaz inside the box, who fired home the 4th.

Two minutes from time substitute Mohamed Aslam added the 5th for good measure, from an Okhuko Frank cross.

ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Mohamed Fazal

Replay - Renown SC v Java Lane SC Match