The defending Sharp FA Cup Champions Renown SC cruised through to the final defeating the Premier League Champs Blue Stars SC from Kalutara 2 goals to nil on 20yh May in the first semi-finals at Sugathadasa Stadium.

Renown SC got off to a fine start having full control of the ball, under very soggy conditions after heavy rains that prevailed before the match.

Nirosha Abeysekera the mid fielder who received a good ball from I.P. Gunaratne from the right slashed straight into the nets baffling the opposing custodian. This goal put Renown in front in the seventh minute.

Kalutara lads fought very hard from this stage onward though Renown strikers want on the attack without much success. During this period Blue Stars SC too missed many opportunities of scoring.

Renown got further ahead when Abeysekera got the second goal for his side in the 32nd minute. Renown 2 Blue Stars 0. The teams returned for Lemon with Kotahena team leading 2-0.

The turn around saw Blue Stars SC all out for the kill with Renown team looking at bit sloppy at times.

This session was the most unlucky for the visitors missing as many as size scoring chances.

Renown team were relaxing and kept on holding on to the lead until the final whistle.

Blue Stars SC failed make good use of the nine corner kicks that came their way. A.G.C. Deshapriya controlled the game.

Ratnam SC also from Kotahena who are the current Champions of Champions proved they are still in perfect condition in the soccer scene beating the outstation team from Negombo Jupitors SC 4 goals to 2 in a penalty shoot out.

Ratnam SC had to face stiff opposition for nearly 28 minutes as their opponents put up a grand show to hold them. It was non other than that veteran striker Mohamed Amanulla who had a bang at the goal from 20 metres when he found the full coming out off a melee his kick passed the goal keeper like a bullet. This put them ahead and Lemons was taken with Ratnam leading 1-0.

When players returned for the second session the teams produced top class soccer with equal position. Here too the visiting team lost the advantage when their strikers failed to target their shots correctly.

With only four minutes left for the final whistle N. Mohamed Nawfeer scored the equaliser for the Negombo team.

The last four minutes too passed without any addition to the score and the referee Anura de Silva had no other option other than to introduce the tie breaker system.

The final of the Sharp FA Cup between yesterday's winners Renown SC and Ratnam SC will be played on May 29 at Sugathadasa Stadium kick off scheduled for 6 p.m.

Bernard Perera – Daily News

Related news: -Sharp FA Cup Semi-Finals 20 May 2004...(20/5/2004)