Afonja Jibola inspired Blue Star SC scoring 2 goals in the second half to deny Navy a victory as the match ended 2-2 at the DCL 16 Super 8 Week 3 fixture played down at Kelaniya Football Complex.
Navy SC was yet to get a point coming into the match. Despite a spirited display, they lost 3-2 against a much stronger Army SC after being bulldozed by Solid SC 5-0 in the first match of the Super 8. On the other hand, Blue Star SC played down a goalless draw against Air Force SC after gunning down mighty Renown 2-0 to kick start their Super 8 campaign.
Resolute Blue Star frustrates Air Force
Resolute Blue Star outfit frustrated a strong Air Force team as they emerged with a goalless draw to earn a point at the Kelaniya Football Complex.
The match started in a dull manner with both teams finding it hard to settle into the game. Both teams looked nervy and one too many miss passes didn’t allow the match to find a flow.
It was Navy SC who created the first opportunity but the long range effort from Tharindu Eranga was off target. Blue Star won back possession as they started to attack from both sides.
Despite all the pressing form Blue Star SC, the goal never arrived as Prasanna Sanjeewa and Tharindu Eranga made some timely interceptions to keep Navy SC in contention.
Despite all the possession Blue Star SC had, it was the Sailors who scored the first goal. A wonderful swirling cross from Tharindu Eranga was neatly utilized by Subash Madushan who headed the ball past a diving Manjula Fernando as the defenders of Blue Star were ball watching forgetting their duty to clear the ball away.
Photos: Blue Star SC v Navy SC | Super 8 | DCL16
Blue Star SC 0 : 0 Navy SC – Dialog Champions League 2016 – Super 8 | #Match 9
Blue Star SC shuffled their plans after the goal by making an early substitution bringing on Mohamed Farzeen for Tharaka Silva.
Blue Star continued to camp on Navy SC’s half but found it hard to breach the Navy defense.
Navy SC defended resolutely to reach the half time safe with the lead. It included a great save from Navy SC keeper Udayanga Reginold who stopped a curling free kick effort with his fingertips at the stroke of half time.
Half Time– Navy SC 1-0 Blue Star SC
Blue Star looked intent to get back into the game in the second half tried some luck from long range.
But Navy SC was ready for the plan and luckily for them, few hand ball calls came in their favour.
Navy SC scored to double the lead in the 50th minute when skipper Chrishantha Perera headed Dhammika Rathnayaka’s cross into an empty post. Manjula Fernando, the veteran goalkeeper who usually is a safe customer couldn’t stop the cross as he parried it away to Chrishantha who accepted the opportunity gleefully.
Army survive late surge by Navy to secure win
Army SC managed to secure their first win in the Dialog Champions League Super 8 stage with a 3 – 2 win over Navy SC in the last match of Week 2 at the Kelaniya Football Complex.
Blue Star SC again started to dominate possession as they did before but not were not threatening enough.
But all their efforts paid off when Mohamed Rifkan rose high to head the ball into the goal in the 65th minute and give Blue Star the much needed boost.
Navy SC almost responded soon after when Chrishantha went one on one with Manjula Fernando but this time Manjula Fernando saved the weak effort from Navy skipper who could have done better given his ability.
The match started to heat up with both teams attacking aggressively and Blue Star almost made it all equal but Idowu Hameed was not able to get the free header on target after a great delivery from Afonsa Jibola found him free.
In the 77th minute, Afonja Jibola scored the equalizer as he unleashed an unstoppable shot which shot into the bottom right corner.
The equalizer set up a thrilling final ten minutes with both teams chasing the victory.
E.B Channa was given a great chance to win the match for his team but despite having all the power behind it he couldn’t get the precision right as his header missed the goal by inches.
Jibola, who was the main architect of the Blue Star come back missed an easy free header from point blank range to round off a wonderful performance.
The match didn’t die off till the last moment when Navy had a chance to win it with a counter but Manjula Fernando was able to clear the danger away.
Full Time– Navy SC 2-2 Blue Star SC
ThePapare.com Player of the match – Afonja Jibola (Blue Star SC)
Navy SC’s Dammika Athukorala speaking to ThePapare.com,
“Despite the goal lead at the half time we went for more goals. But defensive mistake let Blue Star to score two goals. We had two great opportunities but missed it due to confusion. It is a match we could have won if not for those missed opportunities”
Blue Star SC Coach G.V.C Karunarathne,
“We made some changes at half time. We played Jibola wide to create opportunities and it paid off. Jibola helped us by creating so many opportunities. Some players were not fit and the fitness level was not up to the standards but we coped well”
Goal Scorers
Navy SC – Subash Madushan 27’, Chrishantha Perera 50’
Blue Star SC – Mohamed Rifkan 65’, Afonja Jibola 77’Assists
Navy SC – Tharindu Eranga, Dhammika Rathnayake
Blue Star SC – E.B Channa
Bookings
Yellow Cards
Navy SC –Chrishantha Perera 75’
Blue Star SC – Nasiru Opayemi 68’ Udayanga Reginold 76’
