Cooray SC and Jupiter SC Negombo locked horns in their Premier League Division 1 encounter at Cooray Park and a combination of poor finishing from the hosts mixed with some brilliant goalkeeping resulted in the match ending scoreless at the final whistle.
Cooray started on the front foot as M.Sukarshan and Olayemi Ojulape had shots blocked by the Jupiter defense in quick succession following a corner kick for the hosts.
They went close to scoring again as a flick cross by Ojulape was met with an acrobatic bicycle kick from midfielder S.Jajethanan and he was only just off target with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
The visitors’ best chance of the game came from a corner which Kelum Sanjaya did well to get to, but unfortunately saw his header bounce into the ground and over the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
Ojulape had another chance on the verge of half time, this time from a volley after he was released down the left by the lively Anton Joy, but the foreign import couldn’t direct his effort on target to trouble Susantha Appuhamy in the Jupiter’s goal.
Half time: Cooray SC 0-0 Jupiters SC
Cooray SC started the second half on the front foot yet again and despite their dominance, both Dinesh Jayasinghe and Ojulape failed to test the keeper with fairly decent chances early on in the half.
The game was then brought to life by a stunning save by Appuhamy in the visitors’ goal after a volleyed snapshot from Sukarshan was acrobatically parried over by the man between the sticks.
He followed up that save with a stunning double save to deny Ojulape, just as the winger seemed destined to score, keeping Jupiters in the game almost single-handedly.
Jajethanan then rose highest in the box to meet an Anton Joy cross, but just couldn’t direct it goalwards as the urgency of the hosts started to increase.
Appuhamy was at it again as another shot that came towards his goal was tipped round the post by the keeper who was in great form throughout the second half.
Towards the latter part of the game it was central midfielder Anton Joy, who had impressed with his distribution up to that point, who tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck and make the difference for Cooray.
First he unleashed a fantastic dipping volley that had the keeper beaten for once, only to see his effort hit the crossbar and go behind for a goal kick.
His next attempt was also the last significant attacking move for Cooray as a well struck free kick hit the angle, and as the ball fell in the box it was well smothered by Appuhamy to seal a creditable point for the visitors from Negombo.
Full time: Cooray SC 0-0 Jupiters SC
ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Susantha Appuhamy (Jupiters SC)
