Airmen take on Civil Securitymen in today's semi-final

Bernard PERERA

Sri Lanka's most prestigious football championship the Holcim FA Cup organised by Football Federation of Sri Lanka has reached its semi-finals stage. Today the first semi-final gets under way at CR&FC ground when Sri Lanka Air Force take on debutants to the championship Civil Security Force team at 4.00 p.m.

The second semi-final is scheduled to be conducted at the same venue with Ratnam SC, the Premier League champs taking on Sri Lanka Police also at 4.00 p.m.

This year for the first time in the history of soccer's FA Cup has seem the arrival of four forces teams reach the semis most of the leading teams were knocked out during the prequarters or the quarters.

The biggest upset was the elimination of the defending champions in the first round. The only unbeaten non force team to qualify for semis is the Ratnam SC from Kotahena.

Air Force before reaching today's semi-final overcame Old Bens 5-4 in the pre quarters and defeated Blue Star SC from Kalutara 9-8 in a penalty shoot out Sugathadasa stadium meanwhile Civil Security Force record a comfortable pre quarter-final win over Cooray SC 3-0 and made their way to the quarters defeating Maligawatta Youth SC also with the same margin 3-0. Civil Security Force made comfortable victories right throughout the tourney recording four wins they beat Wimbledon SC 3-1, Fortune SC 7-0, Rudra SC 10-1, Manchester SC 9-1 and Java Lane SC 4-0. Their total number of goals before the pre quarters showed 31 which proves their striking power.

The goals scored against them were 3 goals which gave the credit to their defenders.

Airmen meanwhile had to struggle for goals though their card shows 14 goals due to penalty shootouts. Their opponents too have been strong scoring 12 - Old Bens 4 and Blue Star 8. These records give an indication that Airmen have a tough situation facing the Civil Security Men today.

In the second semi-final tomorrow between Police and Ratnam too is expected to produce good soccer as both teams are well balanced.

Ratnam SC to reach Sunday's game defeated Middlesex SC 5-0 and Sri Lanka Army 3-2. These results show that Ratnam had battled hard to qualify for the semis.

On the other side Police who faced the toughest teams manage to overcome their hurdles quite comfortably beating New Youngs SC from Wennappuwa and the glamour boys from Pettah Sanders SC, 5-3. Tomorrow's game could be the best to witness by all soccer fans as this too is expected to give their money's worth for the weekend.