Moragasmulla SC edge past nine man hosts, Cooray SC 4-3 in an ill-tempered yet a goal fest of a match in the FA Cup 5th round tie which was worked off at Cooray Park in Wellawatta.
With both teams’ offenses getting into fifth gear from the word go it only took a mere two minutes for the hosts Cooray SC to steal the lead against the run of play from their visitors despite their early dominance. D. Pradeep slid the ball past the advancing goalkeeper after getting on the end of a wonderful through ball from Daniel Vinoth.
Despite the early set back Moragamulla kept up the heat against the hosts as they pushed for an equalizer. At with their persistent pressure it didn’t take long until V.P.Sakulada worked his way past two defenders and swatted home the equalizer in the eighth minute.
Photo Album – Moragasmulla SC v Cooray SC – FA Cup 2016
With the momentum shifting towards them, Moragasmulla kept pushing for their second goal to seize the game by the scruff of its neck. With their relentless offensive charge Moragasmulla SC finally did so in the 17th minute of the half when V.P.Sakulada scored his brace with the service of lovely chip into the box by N.I.Priyankara.
With Moragasmulla controlling the game from the outset it took another defensive howler from the visitors to let the hosts get back into the game as N.L.Osaigbovo tapped in from close range into an empty net with the Moragasmulla defense in the middle of the communicational crisis.
The half drew to a close as both teams went into the hut with a two all score line with one caution being dished out by the referee as a result of some hefty tackling by S.Samantha from the Moragasmulla SC defensive line. The Moragasmulla striker Sakulada was by far the player of the half with his enterprise and clinical finishing which kept Moragasmulla in a commanding position.
The second half started off on the contrary to the first as the hosts Cooray SC seized the initiative.
Their early pressure paid off as S.Jajeeththanan rolled home a slick pass from N.L.Osaigbovo to put the hosts back in the lead in the 48thminute. The game took a dirty turn after the third goal as the physicality increased and a fair share of weighty challenges were exchanged among both team players.
The utmost talking point took place in the 58th minute when Danusha Perera was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on the Moragasmulla SC forward.
With the numerical advantage Moragasmulla pinned the hosts in their half in search of an equalizer.
Yet another turning point took place with 10 minutes to go as two players from either side got into feisty tussle as both players were shown red to add to the drama. As B.Mathanraj and H.R. Priyawansa from Cooray SC and Moragasmulla SC respectively took their leave, the game entered a phase in which Moragasmulla dominated proceedings.
In the most anti climatic terms Moragusmulla drew level in the 86th minute by a glancing header from D.K.Rashmika off a corner who happened to be one of their inspired second half substitutions.
With the momentum behind them, Moragasmulla set off to put the game to bed in the dying minutes of the half. Thus happened as yet another super-sub M.D.Manoge picked up on a sloppy defensive clearance and swatted home the winner.
The chances for the hosts were few and farfetched as they were on defensive duties since scoring their third goal.
However during the half there were a few glimpses of opportunities to put the game away from their opponent’s reach which were squandered.
Eventually the result came down to who took their chances as the game progressed and as to who showed more intent to win the game. The standout for the hosts was their brilliant number twenty Osaigbovo who showed some substance in a fading game.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: V.P.Sakulada
