SOCCER: Sri Lanka under the leadership of Chathura Maduranga with 2 goals to one win over fancied Malaysia managed to level the series one all. On Saturday Malaysia defeated the hosts four goals to nil when E.B. Channa skippered the national team. Both matches were played at the Sugathadasa stadium under lights.
Yesterday Malaysians were in full control of the first session. They never allowed the local front liners to make inroads in to their territory. But were always seen on the attack with the sole intention of moving ahead to maintain their winning streak.
Their attempts brought results only in the sixteenth minute when their skipper opened scoring. He was the man who initiated the earlier victory too by scoring the opening goal, which was a morale booster.
Yesterday too the Malaysians were with the same morale and were expecting to score as much as possible, but failed in all their attempts. The Lemons were taken with the visitors in the lead 1-0.
The second session began with a bang Sri Lanka making a change in the line up bringing in Fazal Mohamed Fauzan in place of M.N.M. Izadeen. This change proved vital as Fauzan joined Kasun Jayasuriya and E.B. Channa to take the attack to the opposition. Fauzan made quick inroads and was successful in scoring the equaliser in the 47th minute. It was a morale booster for the Lankans and changed the pattern of the game.
Eight minutes later Lankans received a free kick few meters away from the box on to the left. Fanzan took a brilliant kick at he goal which sailed smoothly for Azmeer Ali for the header.
Sri Lanka 2 Malaysia 1.
The game took a different turn with referee having lot of ground to cover with rough play coming into the game and had to pull out the yellow card on few occasion to both parties.
Referee also had to send off Lanka's midfielder Azmeer Ali 20 minutes into the second session of play, Sri Lanka had to defend their lead with only ten players for the balance period of time.
This they did well and cruised to victory. Chathura Maduranga will be a happy man as this was a test for his leadership which brought in good results. Anura de Silva refereed with the assistance of M.C. Jamaldeen and J.L.M. Miranda. The fourth referee was M.A. Ranjith.
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