Three goals in 10 minutes at the start of the second half ensured that Colombo FC got all three points in their clash against Negombo Youth 4-0, when the two teams met at the City League Football Complex.
Colombo FC, who lost to Blue Star last week, without skipper Rawme Mohideen got off to a very slow start with their defence troubled by the pace and high pressure tactics employed by a spirited Negombo Youth team, who too were stinging from a 2-0 defeat to Solid SC.
Mohomed Imran had to make a fine save to deny Shanaka Prasad early on as the visitors created the better chances for most of the half.
Pradeep Fernando really should have given Negombo Youth the lead after a fine piece of work from Abdul Mumuni to get to the byline, cut into the box and put the ball on a plate for him at the edge of the six yard box. However with the goal at his mercy the forward fluffed his lines and skied his effort over the bar.
That narrow escape served as a wakeup call for the Champions and after some fine interplay between Ahamed Shazny, Momas Yapo and Dan Ito, the Japanese international found himself through on goal and made no mistake with the finish, coolly slotting beneath Satheesh Kumar in the 44th minute.
Half Time: Colombo FC 1 – 0 Negombo Youth SC
Colombo FC made a few tactical changes for the second half with Afis Olayemi and Nagoor Meera playing more centrally and Zarwan Johar dropping a bit deeper to create from midfield. And create he did, putting on one of his best performances and played a key part in all three goals Colombo scored in the second half.
First Zarwan released Ito on goal and in the midst of some goalmouth action as a result of that play, the referee awarded a penalty to Colombo FC for a handball inside the box. Momas Yapo made no mistake with the spot kick as Colombo FC doubled their advantage.
Nagoor Meera was then played through on goal by Zarwan, and unselfishly crossed the ball for Afis Olayemi to head home from point blank range just minutes after the second goal.
The third goal came soon after as Zarwan headed a cross field ball into the path of Nagoor Meera who took a touch and then hammered an emphatic volley into the net to put Colombo FC comfortably out of sight.
Negombo Youth looked a dejected bunch following the blitz and despite a bright performance by substitute Harindra Peiris, it was their goalkeeper Sathees Kumar who had more to do for the rest of the game denying Meera and Zarwan with fine saves to prevent any further embarrassment.
Full Time: Colombo FC 4 – 0 Negombo Youth
ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Zarwan Johar (Colombo FC)
Speaking to the coaches after the game they had this to say;
Coach Roomy of Colombo FC;
“At half time I just told my team to try and score a few goals and kill the game off. Moving the wingers to more central attacking positions helped as well. We did feel Rawme Mohideen’s absence but after Shazny came in we did a pretty good job of holding the midfield.”
Coach Kabeer of Negombo Youth;
“I don’t accept the decision for the penalty for the second goal it was a very harsh decision given under pressure from the Colombo FC players. That was a turning point in the game as our team was mentally really down after that. We dominated the first half despite going a goal down at the end and if we had made better use of our chances we could have won this game.”
Goal Scorers
Colombo FC – Dan Ito 44’, Momas Yapo 50’, Afis Olayemi 53’, Nagur Meera 55’Bookings
Yellow Cards
Negombo Youth – Sathees Kumar 24’, Rajaratnam Minon 66’
