Expolanka wins soccer double crown

Yasaratne Gamage

Expolanka Group 'A' bagged a golden double when they emerged winners at the 36th Mercantile Soccer Sevens, thrashing Shan Travels by 7- 1 in the final at CR and FC grounds on Saturday. Earlier they won the League championship maintaining an unbeaten record in the round robin stage.

Niran Kanishka scored four goals while A.R.A. Shazny netted two and M.R. Mohideen contributed with a goal for the winners . The solitary goal for the losers was scored by M.A.M. Yaseer. The tournament was conducted by the Mercantile Football Association and was participated by 32 teams, pooled in eight groups, consisting 62 matches.

During the round robin stage, Expolanka Group emerged the Mercantile League Soccer champions by being unbeaten in the tournament. They defeated Amana Takaful Insurance 2-0, Hirdaramani's 10 - 0 and received a walkover by Ceylon Insurance.

At the completion of the round -robin stage, the group winners advanced to the Cup championship while the group runner-ups qualified for the Plate Championship.

Expo Lanka 'A' defeated Hidaramani by 1-0 in the quarter-finals and they went on to overcome Amana Takaful Insurance by 4-1 in the semi-finals. Shan Travels beat CIFL by 4-1 in the quarter-finals and they entered the final by defeating LB Finance on penalties 3-2 after having tied at one all.

HNB emerged Plate Champions by defeating Sampath Bank in the finals by 5-1. Earlier HNB overcame Lake House by 2-1 in the quarter-finals while Sampath Bank overcame Expolanka Group 'B' on penalties by 2-1. In the semi-finals Sampath Bank 'B' beat Sri Lankan Airlines on penalties 2-0 and HNB overcame Colombo Dockyard by 2-1 to enter the finals.

Milroy Udaya Kumara from Sampath Bank 'B' was picked as the best goal keeper and Ananda Kumara from HNB was adjudged the Most Outstanding Player.