Renown strengthened their title aspirations holding off a Blue Star comeback to register a 3-2 win in the Dialog Champions League Super 8 encounter at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Renown coming off an emphatic 4-0 win over Java Lane last week raced to a 2-0 lead inside the first quarter against Blue Star who were stinging from the defeat to Army which was also ended 3-2. However Yankson Richard pulled a goal back and had the opportunity to equalize but Sathish Kumar denied his penalty before half time. Christ Abraham leveled terms but Emmanuel Ojinkeya scored the winner with 10 minutes left.
Photo Album – Blue Star SC v Renown SC – Dialog Champions League 2015 (Super 8)
Blue Star who had the best defensive record in the group stage conceding only three goals, let in that same amount in their first Super 8 match against Army and found themselves chasing the game as early as in the 4th minute when Mohamed Rifnaz scored from the six yard box.
From a quickly taken free-kick Fazal Mohamed raced to the byline and his cut back into the box found Rifnaz who struck a powerful shot past the goalkeeper Manjula Fernando. Renown on the ascendency kept the pressure on as a rattled Blue Star failed to settle down into the match.
Renown doubled the lead in the 15th minute when Emmanuel Ojinkeya showed his strength to hold off Fahir Ali and score on the turn after a delightful cross from Fazal from the outside of his boot.
Blue Star with nothing to lose fought their way back and got a goal back in the 25th minute when Yankson Richard scored past a helpless Sathish Kumar. Richard had the opportunity for the equalizer when referee K.P.Dias pointed to the spot after Fazul Rahuman fouled E.B.Channa on the edge of the box. It was a brain freeze by Fazul where Channa with his back towards the goal was going away from the box. Sathish Kumar however dived the correct way to brilliantly save the low effort much to the relief of Fazul.
After the break Blue Star found savior with a late equalizer in the 72nd minute from Christ Abraham but Ojinkeya with his second goal in the 79th minute gave Renown the win. It was orchestrated by Onana Franklin who showed ambition and pressured the defender inside the box and his effort was tapped in at the far post by Ojiinkeya.
With this win Renown are in very good position to challenge for the championship after coming into the Super 8 round without any bonus points.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Emmanuel Ojinkeya
Renown SC Captain Hakeem Kamil: “We played well today and practiced paid off. Coach Amanullah told us to keep the ball and play attacking football, which was positive. We will be fighting hard for the Championship.”
