The Champions of the previous season Sri Lanka Air Force failed to score against Saunders S.C in their Dialog Champions League which match ended in a draw at the CR & FC grounds.
Though both set of strikers played their level best, the outcome was not successful and none of the teams scored any goals to gain victory. Key players like D.K.Duminda and Janaka Chamindu showed their optimum talent in the attacking area while S.Srikanth, Kumara Lankeshwara and Dilshan Sumedha Fernando took care of the defense.
Saunders S.C have got back their striker Dilan de Silva who played for another leading club last season. At the same time Manchester United trained star player Indeewara Udara was the right winger and was a threat to the Airmen. Captain Sameera Perera and S. Dharmapala played as centers to supply the ball to the wingers. Former Sri Lankan national players Duminda Hettiarachchi also popular as ‘Dimu’ and M.Rimsan were the main stars who covered the defense line.
First half was full of thrilling moments as so many near misses took place by both teams. Indeewara Udara and Dilan de Silva outplayed the defense line of Air Force but failed to score any goals. Udara was perfect with his crosses and Dilan could not reach the ball as he expected. Sameera Perera made a lob pass to left winger Ismath who went through Roshen Fernando and Sumedha Fernondo. His attempt to dribble the ball failed as the goal keeper reached.
A free kick was awarded to the men in yellow. S. Dharmapala’s beautiful kick went right on top of the box. Being a speedy striker Dilan de Silva moved to the position where the ball reached. Dilan headed the ball to the goal post but the ball hit the bar.
The Airmen had a different set of techniques in the attacking line. Not using the wingers through the side lines was special. Captain and midfielder Janaka Chamindu made few through passes on to the penalty box where some of them were collected by the opponent goalkeeper and some of them were collected by the wingers. Not shooting the ball directly to the nets and crossing the ball again to the strikers will go down as a mistake by the wingers.
Both teams fail to score in the first half as score remain 0-0.
The second half was not to the expected level. The Airmen tried to make a few attempts through their striker and the right winger but none of them were successful. Nuwan Weligamage made few shots from the top of the box to the goal posts. Saunders goalkeeper R.Perera did not fail to save all of them.
Dilan de Silva dribbled the ball through two defenders by the help of Isuru perera which was a nail biting moment for the audience. As the ball travelled faster than him, he failed to turn and shoot the ball towards the nets. Left winger Ismeth tried to take some shots at the goal posts which was blocked by the opponents.
Goalkeepers of both sides dominated the game as it was a tough match.
Some of the major foul incidents were not called out by the referee due to poor decision making and lack of communication.
The Air Force team had an excellent season last time and the team went on representing the country in the AFC Presidents cup tournament. No changes have been made in the Air Force team for this season and coach Sampath Perera expects to have a successful team performance this season as well.
Match ended as a draw as both team failed to score till the final whistle of the game.
