FA Cup soccer enters quarter final stage

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Holcim FA cup pre quarter finals ended with teams from four security services and four prominent clubs entering the quarter finals.

Eight teams vied for enter the quarter finals and 131 team took part in the tournament. Eight teams had been seeded on their last year performance and joined the tournament at the pre-quarter stage.

In last Saturday's pre-quarters, Renown SC, SL Air Force SC, SL Army SC , SL Police SC qualified for the quarter finals while Ratnam SC, Sri Lanka Navy SC, New Youngs SC and Don Bosco SC entered quarters after Sunday's pre-quarters.

One of the prestigious soccer tournaments in every country, FA cup played for the respective country's Football Federation Cup. More than 200 countries annually conduct this tournament parallel to the FA Cup in England which inaugurated way back in 1871.

Sri Lanka too joined in this exciting soccer tournament in 1949. Saunders won the maiden final by defeating Police team by 1-0. Saunders have won the FA cup in 21 occasions though this year they were knocked out even before pre-quarter final stage.

Ratnam SC has won the cup six times while Renown SC emerged winners on five occasions. One of the remarkable records in the FA cup history is P D Sirisena' s (Saunders SC) six goal haul in the 1960 final and a 24 goals sack in the tournament that year.

Renown beat Nandimithra

Last year's semi finalists Nandimithra SC of Civil Security Department had to leave the tournament this year when they received a 1-3 defeat from Renown SC at City Football Ground on Saturday. Both teams were equal in the first half with one goal each. Nandimithra led with an early goal in the 5th minute by S Satheeswaran. The equalizer came from Renown when M M Sameer netted a goal just before half time. Soon after the break F K Z Ahamed (49 minute) and M K M Hakeem (88 minute) booted another two goals to secure victory for Renown.

Hopes alive for Air Force

SL Air Force SC overcame Blue Star SC by 3-2 in a penalty shoot out at Vernon Fernando Stadium , Kalutara after a drawn game where no team scored a single goal.

Army march forward

SL Army SC won their pre-quarter final against Pelicans SC by 1-0 at Kelaniya Football Ground. R D S Gunasinge scored the only goal in the match. Pelicans however had a marvelous tournament and defeated well known Saunders earlier.

Old Bens goes back

SL Police SC won against Old Bens SC by 2-0 at their home ground in Bambalapitiya. Both teams struggled in the first half though none were successful. B A R Jayavilal and M S M Naushad scored goals in the 51st and 73rd minutes respectively for Police.

SLTB blocked

After a tough battle in the first half with equal goals for both teams, New Young's SC defeated SLTB by 3-1 at City Football Ground on Sunday. L Jagath Rohana netted the solitary goal for SLTB. WA S Dushmantha (two goals) and A R M Mushikar together added three goals to help New Young's SC to enter quarter finals.

Too easy for sailors

Navy SC had no difficulty in defeating Kalutara Park SC by 4-0 at Vernon Fernando Stadium on the same day. A A N Roshan, E A C Sanjeewa, P D M Migara and L A P Lakshitha scored goals.

Don Bosco in command

Last year runner up Don Bosco secured their place in the quarter final by defeating Java Lane by 2-0 at hosts ground in Negambo. After a long tussle H P N Janith and W A P Silva netted goals towards the end of the game.

Ratnam SC scored regular goals without much effort against Matara City where in the first half Ratnam led 3-0 with Yogaraja's two goals and another one from Abeysekara. J B R Lasantha made it 4-0 in the second half.