Inaugural South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota:

Sri Lanka rout Nepal – 11/2

Yasaratne GAMAGE reporting from Hambantota

Sri Lanka trounced Nepal by 11-2 in the opening match of the Inaugural South Asian Beach games, giving a fine display of beach football to the fans yesterday morning at Hambantota beach games site.

Pradeep Rodrigo (Jupiters SC) scored four goals, while Roshan Malinga Silva (SL Ports Authority SC) scored three.

Sri Lanka captain R. Seller (Ignatious SC) gathered two while Dinesh Nilantha (Super Beach SC) and Rohitha Kumara each contributed one goal to make it a dozen minus one goal tally for the home team.

At the sunny beach football court at Hambantota, Roshan Malinga opened scoring for Sri Lanka with a goal which seemed started at an auspicious time with the blessings of the mascot ‘Salupaliya’ as Malinga soon found the net a few minutes later for the second time.

Sri Lankan captain Remoson Selar (No. 6) about to head the ball from Malinga Silva (No. 4) into the Nepali goal during the match yesterday

The goal pouring continued for the hosts with another one by Sri Lanka captain R. Selar who kicked the ball to the opponent’s net while Pradeep Rodrigo collected one just before the first session to make it four – nil.

Nepal scored their first goal in the second session while Dinesh Nilantha had his share for his team with a goal after lemons and Pradeep collected another two after awhile.

Catalyzed by his team mates’ goal spree, Rohitha Kumara could not stop by passing Nepalese goal keeper to push the ball into the net soon after starting the 3rd session. Malinga and Pradeep continued their scoring spree, each harvesting one goal and Nepal scored another goal which was actually a miniature reply for Sri Lankan mighty score. Seller sealed the first shore game when he added another goal for Sri Lanka to bring an 11-2 victory against Nepal who had a humiliating defeat will meet the Maldives today at the same venue. Sri Lanka skipper R. Selalr after winning the match against Nepal said that team work and continue pre preparation was the key behind the victory.

“We all are looking forward to winning the next two games to enter the finals”, he added.

The Meanwhile Bangladesh overcame Maldives by 8-3 at the same venue yesterday in the second beach football game of the event. Though both teams were at one all at the end of the first session Bangladesh dominated the second quarter by collecting four goals while their opponents managed to score half of that.

The Maldivians who were desperately seeking the ball in the last session were overwhelmed by Bangladesh as they continued to score three more goals to end the match by 8-3.

It will be an interesting match today between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as both teams have won their first matches and have gained two points each in the points table. Sri Lanka will play against the Maldives at 5pm today.