Ratnam heading for honours despite shock defeat

YASARATNE GAMAGE

Defending champions Don Bosco gave their fans the best weekend so far when they defeated much fancied Ratnam SC by 4-3 at their home ground in Negambo in stage 21 match of the Dialog Champions League 2011 Soccer tournament on Saturday.

Stands went roaring when Kumar Fernando netted the first goal in the 18th minute to give Don Bosco a lead of 1-0 in the first half. Pradeep Fernando added the second one after the lemons . E B Channa got Ratnam in to the track with a beauty a few minutes later.

Kumar was at his best for Don Bosco to score two goals that made him another hat trick maker in the tournament. Channa and Neil Abeysekara deceived Don Bosco defense twice that brought Ratnam closer but it was too late for them and the game ended at 4-3 in Don Bosco's favour.

Army sweep Nandimithra

Army came up with their guns blazing to sweep away Nandimithra by 6-0 in another battle at City Football Complex on the same day.

Mohommad Issadeen found no difficulty to bring the first drop of a goal glut for the Army in the first half while Ekanayake followed him in the very next minute. Soon Issadeen added another goal to enjoy the interval with a score of 3-0.

Skipper Lasantha Kumara joined the party in the 58th minute and Issadeen scored another goal which secured his place as the top goal scorer of the tournament with a tally of 14 goals. Nirantha Perera booted another goal to make it a half a dozen for the soldiers.

Police beat Saunders

SL Police SC beat Saunders SC by 1-0 at Kelaniya Football Complex on Sunday. Rajitha Jayavilal booted the only goal of the match in the last minute of the game.

Sailors are safe

Sri Lanka Navy had their position unchanged when they had the better of Java Lane by 3-1 at City Football Complex on Sunday.

Sailor Krishantha Perera crossed the opponents danger area in the 18th minute but Java Lane striker Sarwan scored the equalizer when the second half started. It was Roshan who gave the sailors a lead of 2-1 with the goal in the 71st minute and Pradeep Perera, 10 minutes later made it 3-1.

Sumedha saves Airmen

It was another exciting game for SL Air Force SC when they edged out New Young's SC by 1-0 at Baddegana Football Complex to tie up with Renown SC in the points table where both teams now stay on 31 points.

Sumedha Fernando netted the solitary goal of the game toward the end of the second half.

Renown on track

Chathura Gunaratne and Mohommad Safras made his team happy footballers by scoring two goals in the second half in the game against Blue Star SC at Vernon Fernando Stadium, Kalutara on the same day.

Both teams fought hard for nearly an hour until Chathura scored the first goal and then 20 minutes later Safras sealed the game when he netted the second goal for Renown.

Firing Isadeen

Mohommad Isadeen of SL Army SC is the current top goal scorer after 21 matches with 14 goals while Mohommad Farzeen of Blue Star SC is two goals behind him. E B Channa has fair reasons to be the striker of Ratnam as he has scored 11 goals. Nuwan Priyankara of Nandimithra SC and Pradeep Fernando of Don Bosco has each collected nine goals.

Danger area

Two of the teams among, Nandimithra SC, New Young's SC and Java Lane SC, will have to say good bye at this week end inviting the champion and runners up of division one tournament to join Dialog Champions League next year.

There is greater opportunity for Kurunegala Pelicans, Negambo Youth, Old Bens, Kalutara Park who have performed well in division one championship.

Unreachable Ratnam

Ratnam SC who tops the table with 44 points is far away of the reach of others and are well set for the league championship.

They will meet SL Air Force in the final stage this week end and even a draw is sufficient for them to proceed to the champions cup.

Army can return

SL Army who are in the second position in the points table with 41 points can turn it to a magic by surpassing Ratnam SC if they beat New Young's SC by six goals on Sunday. Last year runners up, Army must be willing to release all their goal bullets to win the league championship this year.

Best of the best

The leading four teams in the tournament after the final stage this week end will vie in the champions of champions knock tournament for the Dialog Chamions Trophy.

The semi final will be between those four teams which is followed by the final .

Final stage match schedule

February 25:

Ratnam SC vs SL Air Force SC @ City Football Complex
Nandimithra SC vs SL Navy SC @ Kelaniya Football Comples

February 26:

SL Police SC vs Blue Star SC @ Police Ground
Renown SC vs Don Bosco SC @ Kelaniya Football Complex

New Young's SC vs SL Army SC @ Sir Albert F Peiries Satdium
Java Lane vs Saunders SC @ City Football Complex.