Ratnam beat Saunders 2-1 in Dialog Premier League C’ship
Bernard Perera
The defending championship of the Kit Premier League Ratnam Sports
Club got off to flying start yesterday at the CR and FC ground defeating
Saunders Sports Club two goals to nil. This was the opening game of the
newly named Dialog Premier League.
The match got off to a start with both teams having lot of confidence
to open the season with a win to take a lead in the early stage of the
season. But the soccer displayed for nearly 40 minutes were not upto
expectations of the large number of spectators.
Strikers of both teams failed to capitalise from the opportunities
they had during this session. Saunders Sports Club’s B.G.D.V. de Silva
who received two warnings during the 43 minutes once again playing rough
play was shown the red card by the referee.
The Pettah Club had to defend with only with 10 players for the
remainder of the game.
The first session ended with a blank score sheet, and second half
began with Saunders SC going on the attack to find the goal to be in
front.
This they achieved in the 47th minute through a corner being taken
from the left wing and T. Nandasiri doing the finishing touches to put
his side in front.
The game really reached its climax with the Kotahena boys changing
their tactics with a view to find the equaliser. This was possible just
two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a hand ball
inside the box. E. B. Channa made no mistake with the kick.
The game continued with all players using rough tactics to avert each
others penetrations to their territory. Referee G. M. Robesh had to pull
out the yellow card on many accessions.
In the seventy eighth minute once again saw a corner being taken by
E. B. Channa from the right wing and header by Kasun Jayasuriya put
Ratnam SC to the lead 2-1.
Ratnam SC did not allow their opponents to get closer to the scoring
area afterwards and held onto their lead till the final whistle to be
worthy winners, and also to take a lead in the very first game.
National skipper Chathura Maduranga who is nursing an injury did not
take the field for the Kotahena team. |
