Ratnam SC enter semis with 3-2 win

Bernard PERERA

Ratnam Sports Club representing Sri Lanka for the AFC President’s Cup Group C qualifying rounds came up with a superb performance yesterday to beat Kanbawza SC from Myanmar by three goals to two under lights at the Sugathadasa stadium. On the whole, the game was closely contested.

Ratnam SC entered the fray as favourites and kept the pressure on their opponents moving towards their opponents goal at every opportunity. This tactic gave the homesters the advantage when Kasun Jayasuriya found the net in only the ninth minute of the game.

Myanmar forwards too applied pressure from then onwards and made many attempts at the goal to find the equaliser. All their attempts were fruitless as the local custodian made very good saves to thwart the opponents from scoring.

Thiha Kyawa the who got the goal for them against Turkmenistan in the previous game, once again was the hero, scoring the equaliser, heading a good pass received from N. Z. Htet. The latter who collected the ball from a melee neatly lobbed it safely to Kyaw who made no mistake with it. Lemons were taken with the scoreboard showing one goal each.

The second session began with both teams using all they had in store. First it was Kyaw who made inroads to the goal area with the intention of putting his side in front. His efforts brought in good results in the 51st minute which also put them ahead 2-1.

It took only four more minutes for the local team to obtain the equaliser. This was made possible when off a melee the ball moved towards the left wing where Mohamed Azmeer was positioned well for it. Azmeer soon after collecting the ball used his left foot kick which saw the ball sail through to the goal to baffle all present.

The battle continued further with both sides looking to go past each others scoreline. In this session everyone present witnessed top class soccer displayed by both teams. Locals were always on the attack while the Myanmar players had to defend tirelessly while making few breakthroughs to go past the defence line which was heavily guarded.

With just seven minutes play left, Kasun Jayasuriya with a power packed shot got past the Myanmar custodian to put his side in front. 3-2. Ratnam SC during the short period left, made few more unsuccessful attempts to score.

Full credit should go to the local team’s goal keeper Dhammika Senarath who was at his best between the posts. This second win also assured the Ratnam team of a place in the semi-final which is to be played in India later.

Rustum Saidor from Uzbekistan controlled the game well with assistance from Shaji Kurian and Abdul Munaf Sarker.

Kasun Jayasuriya the main striker who netted in two goals was adjudged as the most valuable player of the match.

Ashgabat win 7-1

Ashgabat SC who lost their first game two days ago to Myanmar 1-0 came up with a better performance to record a 7-1 victory over Bhutan.

At half time Ashgabat were in front leading 3-0. The second session was completely dominated by the Turkmenistanis. The solitary goal for the losers came just two minutes away from the final whistle.

Kadhum Anda Lazim of Iran refereed this game. Tomorrow Ratnam SC take on Ashgabat SC Turkmenistan while Kanbawza SC meet Transport United from Bhutan at the same venue.