Holy Cross College Kalutara bounced back from their heavy semi-final defeat to secure a 1-0 win over St.Sebastian’s Katuneriya in the third place playoff game of the Kotmale Chox U-19 Schools Championship.
Right from the very start the boys from Kalutara looked the better team with star midfielder Nilesh Kumara at the center of most of what they created.
The St.Sebastian’s defense struggled to adjust to the direct play of the forwards especially Udara Perera and Malsha Fernando as both of them went close to scoring on several occasions in the first half.
Udara Perera dragged a shot wide and then saw a header go narrowly over the bar whilst Malsha Fernando was involved in a massive goalmouth scramble which saw the St. Sebastian’s defence only just about get the ball clear.
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Chathuranga and Madusanka at the other end of the field struggled to create any real clear cut chances as Holy Cross Center Back Govinda Sandeep put behind his nightmare against St. Henry’s and put in a superb defensive shift.
After a goal-less first half, Holy Cross came out of the blocks in similar fashion as a host of opportunities to open the scoring went begging with Aslea Madushan, Nilesh Kumara and Udara Perera being the chief protagonists.
For all the chances they created the Holy Cross goal eventually came from a defensive error as a missed clearance allowed Asela Madushan on goal and beating the goalkeeper to the ball, toe poked home in the 70th minute.
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This sparked St. Sebastian’s into action as they threw men further up the field in a bit to equalize and they had one great opportunity from a free kick but the well directed kick was superbly saved by the Holy Cross keeper Menuka Rohith as the boys from Kalutara held on to their lead to secure a deserved win.
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Speaking to the jubilant coach of Holy Cross Kalutara he had this to say:
“We wasted a lot of chances and should have scored around 3-4, but we had a lot of injuries from the semi final which took its toll. We got our tactics wrong in the semi final and after that heavy defeat I thank the school POG for helping in restoring the confidence of the boys whilst preparing for this game.”
