New Youngs SC through to semis

Bernard PERERA

SOCCER: The debutantes to the KIT Premier League, New Youngs SC from Wennappuwa created history yesterday when they entered the semi-finals on their first appearance at the Sugathadasa Stadium. They outplayed one time champions of the trophy Blue Star SC, Kalutara four goals to one.

The teams could not score during the first half and they returned to the dressing rooms with a blank scorecard.

But on returning after ‘lemons’ H. T. Fernando took charge of the game and booted the first goal in the 58th minute and 23 minutes later he extend the lead once again two-nil.

The forcing player Ifani made it three when he got the goal in the 80th minute and made sure of the victory for Wennappuwa team.

Final minute saw M. T. Fernando smash the fourth goal. The only goal for Kalutara team came from the boot of Mohamed Farzeen that too during the injury time.

This loss also put Blue Stars out of the semis while the Wennappuwa team sealed their berth for the semis along with Saunders SC who heads the Segment A-II.

Jupiters-Air Force drawn

Jupiters SC from Negombo drew with Sri Lanka Air Force one all in a KIT Premier League encounter which was played at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. With this draw Jupiters SC came into equal terms with Sri Lanka Army who also have collected 14 points.

Airmen with the additional point they gained yesterday too are with 14 points which shows that three teams third and fourth and fifth placed teams are all on 14 points in the standings of the Segment A-I.

Jupiters SC and Air Force fought a big battle yesterday in the first session of play and the teams left for ‘lemons’ with a blank score sheet.

On returning for the second session of play Airmen got the lead in the 48th minute, when Nalinda Kumara booted the first goal of the game. But the Airmen could not held on to their lead for long. In just nine minutes later Lami Kiawo, the foreigner playing for Negombo team found the net to get the equaliser.

Both teams have completed their quota of games in this Segment. Meanwhile, Ratnam SC who are lying second will have to play their last game against Kandy York SC.