Army SC recorded their third eight-goal match in the current Dialog Champions League when they strolled to a 8-1 victory against Nandimithra SC at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
The match was effectively over within the opening 13 minutes as Army raced off the blocks to a 3-0 lead. Nandimithra pegged a goal back through a penalty after conceding four and missed another penalty in the second half. Prolific goal scorer Mohomed Issadeen and Madushan De Silva scored hat-tricks while Sankha Danushka and Sajith Kumara scored a goal each for the winners.
Madushan De Silva opened the scoring in the 7th minute and Issadeen added the second two minutes later when the ball fell at his feet after a scramble inside the penalty box and slammed it to the back of the net.
Nandimithra defense was playing a high defense line but goalkeeper Pradeep Prasanna’s indecision in coming away from his goal line left vast spaces behind the back four. Army realizing this vulnerability in Nandimithra defense peppered the ball over the defense. In one such slick move Sankha Danushka chipped the ball and it fell to Madushan who timed his run to perfection and clipped it over the on rushing goalkeeper for the third.
Sankha Danushka this time became the goal scorer when he struck the ball at pace from the edge of the box in the 21st minute to stunned Nandimithra players. However three minutes later Nandimithra were given a chance to fight back when Sajith Kumara handled the ball inside the area and Ton-Tonye stepped up to score from the spot making it 4-1. There after Nandimithra recovered and kept control of the match until halftime.
In the second half Nandimithra started off with positive intent and almost added their second when Damith Weeramthree made good progress down the left cut inside and sent an inviting cross which was met by an unmarked Udaya Madusanka but could only head it wide to the dismay of his teammates. Madusanka missed another on a rebound from point blank range after Army keeper Kumara Sirisena spilled the ball.
Army’s H.Widuranga conceded a penalty but David Osagie’s effort was saved by Kumara Sirisena after Osagie was ordered to retake the penalty by the referee.
Nandimithra’s positive second half start came to an abrupt end when Sajith Kumara scored the fifth goal in the 50th minute from a free kick. Nandimithra kept possession of the ball but were unable to make any useful contributions. Madushan and Issadeen were creating havoc with the ball at their feet and with their incisive runs and Madushan scored the 6th in the 74th minute.
Minutes later Sajith Kumara was fouled inside the penalty box, as Issadeen sent an unstoppable strike to the right corner. He completed his hat trick four minutes later when he got on the end of an exquisite through chipped ball from outside of his boot by Thiruna Senanayaka and crashed the ball on the volley to the roof of the net.
Speaking exclusively to ThePapare.com Army SC’s coach Mohomed Fawmy was pleased with the team’s performance.
“We played well. However the three matches we lost were all due to mistakes. We missed penalty against Navy and made a lot of mistakes in the other losses as well. If we are to perform like we did last year we need to step up our game with the tough opponents.” Fawmy added.
