The much anticipated opening gameweek of the Dialog Champions League ended with Blue Star SC and New Youngs SC topping Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ respectively.
The new comers justified their inclusion to play in the country’s most popular and competitive league –Dialog Champions League, by producing wonderful football against some of the more fancied teams in the competition.
This was evident when Pelicans SC drew with Renown SC at Maligapitiya Grounds in Kurunegala. Pelicans played a tactical game under the tutelage of their Moroccan coach and led at half time with a strike from Manoj Chathuranga in the 28th minute. Pelicans were unfortunate not to have recorded a historic win against their star studded opponents, as Mohamed Rizni leveled the scores in the 70th minute for the lads from Kotahena.
Colombo FC held last year’s Champion of Champions winners SL Navy SC to a goalless draw. Colombo FC put on a resolute defensive performance and almost snatched victory as Mohamed Rowmi’s long range curler evaded the goal by a few inches.
New Youngs SC salvaged a draw against another new comer, Matara City SC with a goal from A.N. Fernando in the 83rd minute. City SC were impressive as they were playing away from home, infront of a raucous Negombo crowd and led the scores in the 28th minute with a strike from Sashika Priya.
Super Sun SC from Beruwala were unable to keep up the newcomers’ outstanding performances as they were demolished 4-0 by neighbours, Kalutara Blue Star. Blue Star led 3-0 at half time with strikes from Mohamed Rameez in the 4th and a brace by African Olayemi in the 18th and 40th minute. The only goal of the 2nd half came from S.Sanjeewa in the 58th minute.
Java Lane played host to SL Air Force SC at Kew Point road. The match was heading to a draw but Java Lane scored the solitary goal of the match in the dying minutes to escape with 3 points. R. Samarawickrama scored the winner with 3 minutes left in regular time.
In the battle of the newcomers at Nawalapitiya, Up-Country Lions took on Solid SC from Anuradhapura. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with the each team scoring either side of half time.G.S. Praboda scored for the visitors in the 39th and Thusitha Lanka for the Lions in the 48th minute.
Don Bosco drew 1-1 against SL Police SC at the Don Bosco grounds. For the hosts W.A.P. Silva scored in the 21st minute and Ranil Sanjeewa’s strike in the 80th minute leveled the scores.
Group A
Ratnam SC 0 – 0 Saunders SC
Blue Star SC 4 – 0 Super Sun SC
Colombo SC 0 – 0 SL Navy SC
Java Lane S 1 – 0 SL Air Force SC
Negombo Youth FC 1 – 1 Matara City SC
|
|
Club |
P |
W |
D |
L |
CS |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
|
1 |
Blue Star SC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
|
2 |
Java Lane SC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
3 |
Colombo SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
4 |
Matara City SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
5 |
Negombo Youth SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
6 |
Ratnam SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
7 |
Saunders SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
8 |
SL Navy SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
9 |
SL Air Force SC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
|
10 |
Super Sun SC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
-4 |
0 |
P – Played, W – Won, D – Draw, L – Lost, CS – Clean Sheets, GF – Goals for, GA – Goals against, GD – Goal difference, Pts – Points
Group B
Don Bosco SC 1 – 0 SL Police SC
Pelicans SC 1 – 1 Renown SC
New Youngs SC 1 – 0 Kalutara Park SC
Up-Country Lions SC 1 – 1 Solid SC
|
|
Club |
P |
W |
D |
L |
CS |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
|
1 |
New Youngs SC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
2 |
Don Bosco SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
3 |
Pelicans SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
4 |
Up Country Lions SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
5 |
SL Police SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
6 |
Renown SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
7 |
Solid SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
8 |
Nandimithra SC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9 |
SL Army SC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
10 |
Kalutara Park SC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
