The 23rd Blue Derby saw a blockbuster finish as S. Thomas’ College,Mount Lavinia avenged their derby blues in a thrilling 5-3 penalty shootout win over their arch rivals Royal College, Colombo after regulation time ended in a goalless stalemate in a wet and muddy outfield at the CR & FC grounds.
Matters kicked off in a dull overcast evening as the outfield was peppered by the rain. Consequently the ground was covered with mud puddles which made life hard for both teams in gaining momentum.
Naveen Jude tried his best to grab the game by the scruff of its neck with his darting runs forward. However the dreadful outfield conditions gave him little respite as he was unable to play his usual style of football.
Chathura Avishka was steady as a rock at the back for the Royalists as Shenal De Silva a mere 15 year old fresher proved to be a handful when the opportunity presented itself. His fearless approach to the game proved to be the bright spark moving forwards for the Thomians’.
As the game moved forward both teams realized that the deadball was the best method to make inroads with a sluggish outfield hampering free flowing football. S. Thomas’ came closest in the first half as a Dion Dias free kick almost found its way into the back on the net after neat near post flick on.
Nevertheless both teams managed to go into the hut without any damage, with both R. Mahindapala and Ashoka Ravindra the coaches of the respective schools’ having to revisit their tactics.
Half Time – S.Thomas’ College 0 – 0 Royal College
None of the teams seemed to be taking a risk during the second half exchanges as the element of risk and mistake was looming with the unpredictability of the sluggish surface.
Both Royal College and S. Thomas’ College threw the kitchen sink at their opponents whenever a set piece opportunity was presented. However with some resolute defending both sides managed to leave the scorers untroubled approaching the last phase of the game.
With the intervention of the match officials along with the infield referee the second half was reduced to a mere 35 minutes as the grey clouds conquered the evening sky. A shootout seemed inevitable as both teams kept clattering the ball from one side to another.
Shortly after the final whistle both teams prepared to decide the outcome from twelve yards. Noteworthy is that Royal ace Naveen Jude took on the gloves as he did in the recently concluded Zahira 7’s competition where he managed guide Royal College to the Plate Championship with his goalkeeping heroics.
Full time – S.Thomas’ College 0 – 0 Royal College
S.Thomas’ took first lease of the shootout and drew first blood with a composed effort. Royal did nothing different to level things up to restore parity. After two successive penalties apiece the Thomians’ made a tactical change in changing their keeper as Tharindu Jayasekara took guard between the sticks.
That certainly seemed to unsettle the following spot kick taker for the Royalists as Sakun Divyanga fired his shot wide of the mark to give the Thomians’ the upper hand.
Two more successive spot kicks followed from either side and it was down to the penultimate kick as Jayasekara faced off against Naveen Jude. Despite going the right way Naveen couldn’t save his team this time around as the jubilant Thomians both past and present ran onto the field to join in on the celebrations.
Penalty Shootout – S. Thomas’ 5 – 3 Royal College
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Naveen Jude (Royal College)
Other age group results;
(Under 11) Royal College 3 – 0 S.Thomas’ College
(Under 13) Royal College 0(4) – 0(5) S.Thomas’ College
(Under 15) Royal College 0(4) – 0(5) S.Thomas’ College
(Under 17) Royal College 3 – 0 S.Thomas’ College
