Negombo Youth - Ratnam qualify to play FA Cup final

Bernard Perera

SOCCER: The reigning Holcim FA Cup Champions Ratnam Sports Club from Kotahena booked their slot for the final when outplayed Saunders SC last year's runners-up three goals to nil in the second semi-final under lights at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Kasun Jayasuriya the national player put Ratnam ahead in the third minute to go for lemons with an one nil lead. The Kasun-Chathura Maduranga combination put more pressure on the Pettah Club with their attacking soccer in the second session. These two brought more confidence for their team. Kasun added a another goal in the 63rd minute to put his side in a strong position 2-0.

Players from the Pettah Club used all their tactics to reduce the lead but failed to do so, and adopted rough play causing referee Anura de Silva to pull out the yellow card to warn them on many occasions. Ten minutes later Kasun made it a hat-trick of goals when he collected a fine pass from Chathura to seal victory for Ratnam.

Saunders players after receiving many warnings continued to play rough and two players received marching orders. Saunders SC had to defend for nearly ten minutes with only nine players.

The first semi final saw Negombo Youth Sports Club make their way to the final with a hard fought victory over Navy SC. Navy SC were well placed in the first session with three goals in only thirty minutes of play. Dudley Steinnwall the National Skipper who led NYSC reduced the lead in the 41st minute. The lemons were taken with the sailors having an advantage.

The second half began with NYSC striking again to make the score 3-2 in the 55th minute. In a couple of minutes Sailors once again added a goal to increase the lead through P. Laksith. At this stage NYSC put their act together to pose a big threat to sailors. This gave good results for Negombo with G. P. C. Karunaratne striking again 4-3.

Steinnwal who brought himself forward in an attempt to make good use of his kicking power found the net in the 81st minute which also levelled the scores 4-4.

Just five minutes of play left the referee A. G. C. Deshapriya found a sailor adopting rough tactics inside the box and a penalty was awarded to NYSC. E. B. Channa another national player made no mistake with the kick and put his side into the final.Yesterday's two semifinals saw all national players made good use of the conditions in scoring twelve goals in two games.

The Holcim FA Cup final is scheduled to be played at the same venue on June 24.

Negombo Youth SC who have already clinched the Dialog GSM Premier League title and the champion of Champion Trophy will go all out to make it a year with three titles which could be a record.

On the other hand Ratnam SC will try to retain the Trophy for a second successive year which too could be a record for the Kotahena Club.