Beruwala Football League beat Kalutara Football League 1-0 in a close game, in the U19 Junior Inter League Football Championship, at the Vernon Fernando Sports Complex, Kalutara.
Beruwala FL made the best out of the few opportunities presented, a skill Kalutara FL lacked, even though the hosts managed to create a lot more chances for themselves than Beruwala did.
Kalutara FL kept trying to score throughout the match with multiple crosses flying in from either side of the pitch; through balls and ground passes seemed to find a striker wherever they were.
The strikers themselves were unable to produce a goal as they failed to convert the chances properly, sending them off-target or right into the hands of the opposition goalkeeper M.H. Ashfaq.
Nilesh Kavinda and M. Refkan of Kalutara FL stood out with their excellent ground passes and crosses, while Ijaz and Prasad Madusanka made a couple of touches on the ball which challenged the opposition defenders.
Mohamed Ijaz of Kalutara FL wasted a penalty kick awarded to them in the 19th minute, sending it over the cross bar with an overpowered chip-shot, trying to shoot it into the top right corner of the net. Goalkeeper Ashfaq was issued a yellow card for a miss-timed tackle which resulted in the aforementioned penalty.
When the two teams came back for the 2nd half of the match, it was evident that Kalutara FL was trying to gain the lead as soon as possible. They rushed through the free kicks and throw-ins, looking to save as much time as possible.
The visitors then took the most out of a rare chance given to them to score a goal and gain the lead in the game. Mohamed Fahir of Beruwala FC made no mistake in chipping the through ball made by Ashfak Ahamed over the advancing goalkeeper in the 76th minute.
It was clear that the goal increased Beruwala FL’s confidence as they started to play more belligerently.
Kalutara FL kept looking for an equalizer until the referee blew the final whistle signaling the end of the match. The only promising attempt at goal, from Kalutara FL’s Gayantha Gimhana in the 86th minute, was cleverly guided over the cross bar by goalkeeper Ashfaq.
