Gnanaruban scored with little over ten minutes left against Java Lane as Solid SC won an exhilarating match under soggy conditions at Kew Points road.
The match was delayed by half an hour after overnight rain had rendered the City Football Complex ground almost unplayable. However the ground staff worked tirelessly to clear the stagnant water and the referees were satisfied with their effort even though there were a few puddles on the sides.
Solid SC from Anuradhapura sitting third on the points table needed the win to keep the pressure on table leaders Navy SC who are two points adrift while mid table Java Lane was coming off an agonizing defeat against Colombo FC.
Thakshila Danoj headed in a Shola cross from close range giving Solid the lead going into halftime. Java Lane struck back on the hour mark from a Madhawa Ruwansiri penalty. Gnanaruban took advantage from a defensive lapse by the home side to score the winning goal.
Both sides had difficulty in finding their feet under the soggy conditions with missed placed passes, comical slips providing entertainment for the spectators who had thronged to the complex to cheer their Slave Island heroes.
The opening chance went to Solid when Thakshila Danoj tried a shot from outside the box which was parried away only until Afeez Olayemi who sent in a cross for an unmarked Gnanaruban at the far post but his point blank range effort crashed off the crossbar.
Seven minutes later Solid took the lead when Thakshila Danoj converted a header from an exquisite free kick delivery by Shola passed the hapless goalkeeper Dhammika Senerath.
The slippery conditions resulted in miss timed tackles and one such occasion made both sides retaliate and a Maxi Lettrn slap on Solid’s Danoj went unpunished by the referee.
The second half started with Java Lane making two forced substitutions because of injury to their goalkeeper and midfielder. The home sides dominated the second half camping in the Solid half creating chances but lacked the killer blow.
Java Lane got the breakthrough they needed when former Sri Lanka captain Suranda Bandara fouled A. Dagish on the edge of the box and the referee had no hesitation in signaling to the spot. Java Lane skipper Madhawa Ruwansiri calmly slotted in the penalty sending the keeper the wrong way to the delight of their fans.
Towards the end Ruwansiri sustained a calf injury but braved on with his side without any more substitutions. Without the midfield enforcer Ruwansiri Java Lane lacked a major cog in their wheel and Solid took advantage when Gnanaruban shot from a cross crashed under the crossbar with the defense out of positions.
Even with a hobbling Ruwansiri, Java Lane spear headed by Zarwan Johar attacked at every given opportunity but couldn’t break the Solid defense led by captain Amith Kumara.
“We played brilliantly in the second half. Had so many opportunities but lacked the finishing touch. Ruwansiri’s injury was unfortunate but it wasn’t the fault for the second goal. Four players were at the near post with no one in the middle. Now we have a couple of weeks rest which is much needed for our players and hope to bounce back strongly after the break,” said a dejected Java Lane coach Augustin George.
