Beat Nandimithra SC 2-1 to create history:

Navy wins Holcim FA Cup

Bernard PERERA

Sri Lanka Navy soccerites created history by winning the Holcim FA Cup 2010 beating Nandimithra sports club two goals to one at police park yesterday. This is the first occasion the sailors touched the most prestigious FA cup in front of a capacity crowd.

Navy SC crime to the final minas two of their main striker due warmings received in the earlier games and had to work hard to earn this victory as one their best achievements in the game soccer.

The game got off to a fine start and both teams took nearly fifteen meters to settle down. Sailors were in charge of the game there onwards and made many inroads to their opponents territory. But failed to achieve access until the 24th minute when Mali Migarth fund the net to take most wanted tead.

Nandimithra team adopted new tactics and went on the attack while making a strong defence to hold the sailors from scoring. Their attack broughts in good results in thirty sixth minute when the equalizer came in for the Nandimithra SC.

It was chameera Krishantha who found the net for his teams success. Both teams once again were seen in battle to get off to a lead and none could do this until the lemons scors reading 1-1. The first session also saw both teams missing few goal scoring opportunities even after penetrating the defense line.

The final session commence and the Navy men were seen having most of the possession of the fall. The defense line of Nandimithra SC did not allow them to got the goal what the sailors were looking for .

Prasad Lakshitha who collected a good pass from the midfielders V. D. Ratnayake dribbled past the defenders and the custodian in the 74th minute to score for Navy team which also put them ahead of the Nandimithra SC.

The game continued for a further with Nandimithra trying find the equalizer while the sailor were hunting for a another goal to extend their lead.

With only five minutes of play left a sailor brought down a Nandimithra SC player in the danger zone and a penalty was awarded to them which was a golden opportunity for them to get the equalizer. Prasad Lakshith was entrusted with the kick but he was not accurate enough to find net and saw the down fall of his team.

The soccer displayed by the teams were not upto expectations for the spectators as it was not a fast tactful.

The commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Thisara Samarasinghe and the chief of the Nandimithra SC (Civil Security Force) Rear Admira Ananda Peiris were seen personally motivating their teams.

Chief executive officer of Olcim Lanka Stephan Huber was the chief guest and gave away the main award. Chairman of management committee Mahilal Fernando FFSL President of FFSL Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera Chief Executive Officer FFSL Chryshantha Perera and officials of the Football Federation were present at the final.

The winner of the Holcim FA Cup Navy sports club also collected a cash award of Rs 350,000 while the runnerup Nandimithra SC went away with purze to the value of Rs 200,000.

Dilan Perera refereed the final.