A record 37 goals were scored in the 9 matches played, an average of just over 4 goals per match in the Dialog Champions League gameweek 7. The torrid weather eased up and the crowds were entertained thoroughly during the weekend.
The highlight was Colombo FC beating Negombo Youth 6-1 in Negombo with T.S.V. Dimitri and A.P. Frank scoring hat-tricks. The first half ended with Dimitri scoring 2 goals while A.K. Silva from Negombo Youth was red carded in the 29th minute. Frank scored his hat-trick in 11 minutes, his goals coming in the 57th, 63rd and 68th minutes. Dimitri completed his in the 73rd minute with S.C. Silva scoring a consolation goal for the home side deep into added time.
The unforgiving Army SC scored 4 goals while keeping a clean sheet against Renown at Longdon Place. Mohamed Issadeen scored a brace in the 7th and 55th minutes. R.D. Sudarshana also added a first half goal for the visitors. The fourth goal came from Renown Captain when he played the ball into his own net in with minutes remaining from the final whistle.
The undefeated giant killers of the tournament, Solid SC bagged another kill when they came back from behind to beat Nandimithra SC 3-2 at Prison Grounds in Anuradhapura. After the humiliation suffered last week at the hands of the Up-Country Lions, Nandimithra needed a strong response and they delivered it in the first half. Goals from B.C. Sampath and Dilhan De Silva lead Nandimithra 2-1 into half time. But they lost steam midway through the second half and goals from Ali and Shola in the 63rd and 69th minutes completed the comeback for the home side.
The battle of the hill country was the Pelicans SC and Up-Country Lions playing out an entertaining 2 all draw at Nawalapitiya. All four goals were scored in the opening half. Serge Arthur opened the scoring in the 16th minute for the hosts with Ovalid equalizing for the visitors minutes later. Ekanayaka took the lead for Pelicans in the 34th and just before half time V.P. Jayarathne made it 2-2.
New Youngs SC and Police SC had to settle for a 2 all draw at the Albert F. Peiris grounds in Wennappuwa. Police went into halftime with a goal from Nilantha Pathirana. After a lackluster first half where both teams played a cautious game, the first 25 minutes of the second half saw both teams scoring 3 goals. Goals from Mohamed Musikan and N.A. De Silva gave the New Youngs the lead but were soon drawn level in the 65th minute with a strike from Police’s L.I. Adeniya.
Neighbors Java Lane and Saunders SC clashed at Kew Points Road with Java Lane walking away with a comfortable 2-0 win. In the initial stages Saunders controlled the match with slick passes and attacks from the left but after finding their rhythm Java Lane proved to be handful for the experienced Saunders defense. In the first half referee failed to give penalty to Java Lane for a handball by former Sri Lanka captain Rohana Ruwanthilaka. Hosts scored their goals through Mohamed Aleem in the 57th minute and Captain Nagoor Meera in the 77th minute.
Navy scored 5 unanswered goals against the hapless Super Sun SC at the Navy Grounds in Welisara. Of the newest additions to the Champions League, Super Sun have showed some horrendous form and sits bottom of Group A. Super Sun managed to go into half time without conceding but Navy turned on the pressure after the restart to score the 5 goals. R.T. Nandasiri scored two goals while R.C. Silva scored a brace in added time. The other goal was struck by N.C. Fernando in the 57th minute.
Kalutara Park SC registered their first win of the tournament by defeating Don Bosco 2-1 at the Vernon Fernando Stadium. For Kalutara Park R.W. De Silva scored the opener in the 5th minute and ten minutes later D. Vicky for Don Bosco equalized. What proved to be the winning goal was struck by O.Daniel in the 31st minute.
Air Force beat Ratnam SC 2-1 at the City Football Complex. Kelum Perera and Janaka Chaminda gave Air Force the perfect start with goals in the 12th and 14th minutes. An early second half strike by veteran E.B. Channa was not enough as the Air Force defense hald firm.
