Zahira, Mawanella in resounding 4-0 win

Bernard Perera

Zahira College, Mawanella who have come out well in the soccer field in the recent past proved that they still maintain the same momentum when they trounced Zahira College, Puttalam by four goals to nil at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

This was a pre-quarter final game of the All Island Schools Invitation Football Tournament organized by 80 Group of Hameed Al Husseinia College for the third successive year.

The boys from Puttalam put up a great show during the first half restricting the high riding Mawanella Boys to only two goals. The hero in this period being M.J.M. Zamil who scored both goals. The second half began with Puttalam team changing their pattern of play and trying everything they had in store to reduce the lead. Though they penetrated the defence lines on many occasions could not find the right target.

Meanwhile, Zamil had other ideas and went on the rampage to score two more goals for his side. His brilliant performance also won him the man of the match award.

Meanwhile, Zahira with this resounding victory qualified to play in the quarters.

In another game played earlier Holy Cross, Kalutara defeated De Mazenod College, Kandana the last year semi-finalists two goals to one. Holy Cross led at the halfway mark. The equalizer for the Mazenodians came through a penalty in the second half. Kalutara Boys put up a strong fight but could not score but for their luck a penalty was awarded to them with a few minutes left from which they qualified for the quarter final. In the third game of the day at the same venue saw Al Hilal College outplay DSS three goals to one. DSS were leading at the lemons.

Al Hilal soccerites with a fine performance managed to score three goals during second half to enter the next round. Hindu College defeated Al Hikma College two goals to one after a scoreless first half.

Last year's runner-up St. Benedict's College too came up with a good display of soccer to beat Maris Stella College, Negombo 2-0 to move to the next round. This game also saw a scoreless first half.

Hameed Al Husseinia completely outplayed Wesley College by eight goals to nil. Lemons were taken with Al Husseinia in the lead 3-0.