Army down All Stars 6-1

Bernard Perera

Sri Lanka Army, the holders of the Dialog Premier League title proved that they still maintain the same form they held last year defeating the All Stars team six goals to one in an exhibition match played at City Football League ground yesterday. This match was organised to coincide with the launch of this year's Dialog Champions League 2009.

The game was well contested by both teams for nearly 15 minutes though the soldiers got ahead in the sixth minute and the 13th minute. The All Stars team led by Rawmy Mohideen had representation from all leading clubs playing in the Premier League.

It was K.N. Pushpakumara who put the soldier in front six minutes into the game and later continued the same form to increase the lead in the 13th minute. The All Stars would not combine well to reduce the lead though they few attacking shot at the goal. Teams returned for lemon with soldier leading 2-1.

After the turn around the All Stars team combined well to attack their opponent on many occasions but the defence put forward by the soldiers were too much. It further 22 minutes for the All Stars to find the net through the boot of Krishantha Abeysekera who came in as a substitute with a free kick 25 metres from the goal mouth.

The Army kept more pressure on their opponents and was seen posing a big threat to pierce through the All Stars defence, this produce good results when M.N.M. Izzadeen slamed a goal in the 6th minute.

It was followed by his second goal in the 85th and saw N. Asanka de Silva get the fifth for soldiers. Izzadeen with few seconds left for the final whistle netted in his third goal to make it 6-1 in favour of the Sri Lanka Army.

The winners Sri Lanka Army received a cash award of Rs. 75,000 and medals courtesy of Dialog Telekom Ltd with the losers went away with Rs. 50,000 and medals. The chief guest Major General L.A.R. Wijetunga gave away the awards with guests of honour Supun Weerasinghe (CEO, Dialog Mobile) and Chirantha de Zoysa (Manager Marketing Promotions and Sports joining).