Ajith Kumara produced three magnificent penalty saves as Navy SC defeated Air Force SC 3-1 in the penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in normal time to book a place in the FA Cup last 8.
The Air Force led the match for the majority of the time through Kolitha Lankeshwara’s penalty but Navy equalized deep into injury time to force a penalty shootout.
Navy came into this pre-quarter final clash defeating Super Sun SC 2-0 while Air Force had an easy 4-1 win over Olympic SC from Mannar. Both sides boasted of star studded players including seven current national players and a few former national caps and was one of the hyped matches in the FA Cup pre –quarter final fixtures.
Air Force started off brightly feeding the ball to the deadly striker duo of Kavindu Ishan and Nipuna Bandara who created indecision in the minds of the Navy defenders with their fast play. Airmen were rewarded when they were awarded a penalty by referee Prashanth Rajkrshina in the 14th minute. Kumara Lankeshwara made no mistake in slotting in to give the lead.
There-on the Navy settled down to what they know best – that is passing and possession and reversed the pressure on the Air Force. Sailors earned a couple of free-kicks but the defense was able to clear out of danger. Sri Lanka vice-captain Nalaka Roshan who controlled the match form the midfield showed wonderful vision to pick put P.Lakshitha with a through ball into the box and Ruwan Arunasiri could only get a palm to it. The rebound fell to Rathnayake but his effort was well blocked by Dilshan Fernando.
Air Force changed their tactics to play on the counter attack and it almost paid dividends when Kavindu charged down the left flank leaving the right-back in his wake but his delivery across the goal was too much for the on rushing Bandara to get to.
That was the only chance for Air Force for the rest of the first half as Navy’s P.K.Perera with his electric pace created havoc on the opposition right side going past three defenders but he was unable to deliver a telling cross. Thereafter Lakshitha was played onside inside the box and his effort missed the far post by mere inches.
Early on in the second half, the Air Force almost took a two goal advantage when Ajith Kumara had to come off his line to clear the ball but only until Chathuranga Fernando who tried a long range effort with the keeper out missed the target much to the agony of the his teammates.
Apart from that opportunity it was Navy all the way camping inside the opposition half which was signified by Ajith Kumara taking position near the half way line – a position Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer is used to.
Navy created the opportunities but the finishing was left much to be desired with Air Force defense defending resolutely. The resolve was finally broken deep into injury time when Nalaka Roshan pounced on a mistake by Arunasiri to get the deserved equalizer.
With that, the match went into penalties where Christeen Fernando put the first one in for Navy. Nipuna Bandara’s effort straight down the middle was saved by Kumara. Krishantha’s penalty rattled off the crossbar giving some hope for the Air Force camp. Kumara Lankeshawara stepped up and this time he couldn’t convert as Kumara excellently judged the kick to save it. P.Charles made it 2-0 for Navy and again Ajith Kumara produced ‘world class’ saving right at the corner to deny Kavindu. Knowing his penalty would book a place in the quarter finals, Nalaka Roshan calmly slotted in sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
“He (Ajith Kumara) is always active and especially in penalties. He has an inbuilt talent for those. He was the hero in that FA Cup final against Army in 2012 when he saved penalties. We were unlucky throughout the match though we dominated but at the last moment the equalizer came and boosted us,” Navy coach Dammika Athukorale told ThePapare.com
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Ajith Kumara
