Cooray SC into quarter finals

By Leslie FERNANDO

Cooray SC pulled off a hard fought one-nil win over Premier SC in the third match of the City Football League Division I Club invitation knockout tournament for Phoenix Cup sponsored by Phoenix Plastic played at the City Football League ground yesterday.

Both sides started on a very fast pace but the Premier SC strikers failed miserably in the first 20 minutes of play.

Three scoring opportunities were wasted in a row. Premier SC strikers should be blamed for not finding the net. Cooray SC team showed prominence in the defence. Both sides failed to produce a goal and at half time the score sheet stood blank. After the breather it was the same pattern of play by both sides attacked and counter attack.

With just five minutes from the final whistle Cooray SC were awarded a penalty for handling the ball by M. Fawmy.

A. H. Nissanka made no mistake with the spot kick to give Cooray SC a close win.

Cooray SC with this win will now meet Old Bens SC in the third quarter final on January 30. Already Maligawatta Youth SC and Blue Star SC have qualified to play in the first and second quarters against Renown SC and Java Lane SC respectively on January 23 and 24.

Today Saunders SC will meet New Young SC at 3.30 p.m.

Mahinda Wjesiri, General Manager, Phoenix Plastic was the chief guest. Referee: Dilan Perera.