Shafran Sathar had an evening to forget as Kevin Asela cancelled out Ijaz Ishan’s second half goal with a thunderbolt of a strike to grab a point for Holy Cross College in their U19 Division I group B match versus Zahira College at Zahira grounds, Maradana.
Both Zahira and Holy Cross came into the game with wins in their previous games versus St. Peter’s College with score lines of 1-0 and 2-1 respectively. Zahira were playing their second game in the tournament while the Kalutara side were heading into their fourth game.
Kingswood falter against Maris Stella; Royal draws against Holy Cross
Maris Stella College kept their unbeaten streak alive with a 3-0 win against Kingswood College while Royal College came from a goal back to draw 1-1 against Holy Cross in the U19 Division I Championship group stage encounters.
Zahira College dominated the game right from the off but took time to settle into their rhythm. The home side took as long as 15 minutes to carve out their first real chance of the game, with Sathar failing to meet a Mohamed Shaheel- cross at the far post.
Shortly after it was Shaheel himself with the chance as he broke into the six yard box with the ball at his feet, but the diminutive playmaker saw his shot blocked.
The game was 23 minutes old when Holy Cross College managed to create their first clear cut chance of the game. Roshen Subash picked up the ball off a Zahira miss-pass and drove into the opposition half to release Nirmal Perera. Perera’s first time strike caught the keeper off guard but sailed just over.
Shaheel ran the show for the Maradana lads as he continued to create chance after chance for the Zahirians but the midfielder was constantly denied by a wall of blue.
Half time – Zahira College 0 – 0 Holy Cross College
Zahira College started the second half the same way they left off the first, with Shaheel trying to penetrate the Holy Cross defense. The midfielder earned the home side’s first chance of the half when he was fouled outside the box, but his free-kick amounted to nothing.
Zahira scrapes past a resurgent St. Peter’s
Zahira College Colombo managed to see off St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya by a slender margin as they beat them 1-0, in the U19 Division I football match played at the Zahira College grounds.
Shortly after, the home side managed to break the deadlock when Ijaz Ishan’s speculative effort from distance caught the keeper off-guard to put Zahira College in front.
That lead was short-lived however as Holy Cross College got back onto level terms six minutes later when Kevin Asela let fly from a 50-50 ball that fell at the edge of the Zahira box to leave keeper Mohamed Rishad stunned.
Zahira responded immediately with Shaheel once again pulling the strings and trying his luck from distance.
The Maradana side were at it again in the 65th minute with Mohamed Nazik putting in a scrumptious ball, only for Mohamed Hammadh to head wide.
Minutes later Sathar missed two brilliant chances to win the game for his side when first, he missed from five yards after collecting a ball that came in from the left and then he missed from 4 yards when he shot wide off of Shaheel’s lob.
Zahira College had one last chance in the final minute through Ijaz Ishan’s free kick. The ball however beat his teammates too, and ended up safely in the hands of the Holy Cross keeper Malinda Karunarathne.
Full time – Zahira College 1 – 1 Holy Cross College
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Mohamed Shaheel (Zahira College)
Speaking to ThePapare.com, stand-in Zahira College Coach Imran said;
“In the first half we didn’t play well and in the second we improved. We just didn’t finish our chances. We will work to do better in the next matches.”
A delighted looking Holy Cross coach Roshan Malinga said;
“We have four key men injured. I played without making any changes. We are sure we will qualify as group winners and our aim is to grab the title.”
Goal Scorers
Zahira College – Ijaz Ishan 44’
Holy Cross College – Kevin Asela 50’
Bookings
Yellow Cards
Holy Cross College – Afdal Azmi 77’
