Isipathana College scored twice in the first half; as they managed to hold off a Thurstan outfit that kick-started their challenge belatedly, as the lads in Green managed to secure the Annual Football Encounter for the second year in a row as the scores read 1-3 at Racecourse today (9th November).
Isipathana College settled in after the early teething problems, as the team in Green took the early share of the spoils.
Thurstan were cut in half after their pocket was picked as skipper Ammar threaded the needle to send through to Disnaka as the striker dispatched his first chance in style, past the helpless goal keeper to put the lads in Green into the lead in the 22nd minute of the game.
The Thurstan defence was not on the same wavelength as their last man, in the no.4 jumper, Senithu Nethmina was the guilty party playing disnaka on-side for the opening goal of the encounter.
This spured on the lads from Havelocks as they took control of possession and the game as the Thurstan players were playing catch-up from then on.
As the game progressed and Thurstan continued to chase the game as gaps opened up in their defensive line yielding more opportunities for Isipathana College.
Pounce they did, Isipathana as they doubled their lead in the 37th minute of the game, curtesy their best player of the team, Kamsaan — in the number 10 jumper –.
Senithu Nethmina afternoon went from bad to worse as he was caught out for Isipathana’s second goal. His rash clearance found Kamsaan and there was just one place Thurstan were picking that ball from; the back of their own net.
Kamsaan made no mistake from in-front, as Thurstan were left to pick the bones out of that as Isipathana College put a 2-goal cushion between the two side within 40-minutes of play.
With time running out on Thurstan, they threw the kitchen sink as Isipathana.
A long range effort, found Demith, the Isipathana goal keeper fumbling in front of his goal, but lady luck was on the side of the Green team as the ball nutmegged the goal keeper and rolled out for a goal kick as the first half was brought to an end by the referee.
Half Time: Thurstan College 00-02 Isipathana College (disnaka 22’ Kamsaan 37’)
Thurstan College was aware that they had to make things happen during the second half if they were to have any chance of reviving this game.
The came all guns blazing, however, Isipathana were too good, as they held firm in defence and controlled the mid-field leaving Thurstan clutching at air, giving them no chance of a comeback.
It took the Thurstan 85 minutes to get a save out of Disnaka, the Isipathana goal keeper.
Isipathana tried to be too cheeky, playing out from the back, even though they knew they almost had the game in their bag.
Thurstan College’s Manaz Rahim came on and made an instant difference, as he worked Disnaka to make a diving save, palming away Rahims curling effort to keep the goalies clean-sheet intact.
The effort on goal, spurred on the Thurstan lads as they found the back of the net 3-minutes later, curtesy Arush Udeepa. The left foot strike seemed to. Scruff the ground, however, it had enough on it to get past Disnaka in goal as Thurstan pulled one back with minutes left in the game.
With the clock past the 90-minute mark, Thurstan College’s chances were ended as Isipathana caught out Thurstan who were pushing bodies forward in hope of an equalizer.
The turned over ball was punted into the Thurstan penalty area, and after the ball pin-balled around, fell to the feet of Abdullah. In an effort to clear his lines, Akalanka Poornima lunged at Abdullah as he got nothing on the ball but all of Abdullah’s foot as he conceded a penalty, well into stoppage time.
Stepped up Kamsaan, as the player of the match, side-footed the ball past the desperate goal keeper to put the seal on the game, handing Isipathana their second win in the encounter in as many years.
Full Time: Thurstan College 01 (88’ Udeepa) lost to Isipathana College (22’ disnaka, 37’ 90+3’ Kamsaan)
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