Preliminary Stage - 1st Leg: Colombo FC 7-1 Transport United

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Colombo FC turned on the power to record a 7-1 win against Transport United of Bhutan in their 2019 AFC Cup South Zone Preliminary Stage first leg tie at the Colombo Race Course Ground on Wednesday.

Colombo had a bright start to the match when they opened the scoring within the first five minutes.

The action began with a corner kick that saw Jean Momas Yapo rising highest but his header bounced away from the goalmouth towards Duckson Puslas, who launched an overhead kick that forced Transport goalkeeper Hari Gurung into punching the ball away. However, M.F.M. Aakib shot the loose ball from close range to give Colombo the lead.

Three minutes later, Colombo were two goals ahead when Momas Yapo’s pass into the middle of the box found a surging Aakib, who then let loose a superb strike into the top right corner of the net.

Boosted by the two quick goals, Colombo moved with confidence, and in the 11th minute, Niran Hewavitharanage dispossessed Transport defender Tshering Samdup near the half-line mark to initiate another attack.

Mohammadu Naizer Mohamad Fasal received the ball and sent a through pass as a nimble Aakib dashed forward to collect before beating Hari Gurung once again to complete his hat-trick.

Tange Dimitri tested Hari Gurung in the 26th minute with a left-footed effort from inside the box, and he eventually etched his name on the scoresheet from the resultant corner kick with a fine header, courtesy of Yapo’s pinpoint cross.

Transport returned in the second half looking to reduce their heavy deficit but suffered another blow when Aboubacar Bakia was shown the red card for a bad challenge on Dimitri in the 50th minute.

In the 76th minute, Dimitri earned his brace with another header, this time a cross from Chalana Chameera after the Transport backline had failed to properly clear the ball.

The Bhutan champions, however, denied Colombo a clean sheet with Norbu Lepcha’s strike from over 30 yards out a minute later.

Hari Gurung was definitely the busier custodian, and in the 80th minute, Colombo were on the move again and the custodian blocked substitute Mohamed Zarwan’s effort but Asikur Rahuman quickly latched onto the deflected ball and made no mistake from close range to regain Colombo’s five-goal lead.

Dimitri became the second player to complete his hat-trick when he lost his marker in the box and connected to Chameera’s cross with a volley to seal their emphatic win.

Transport will play host to Colombo in the second leg on February 27.

Photos: Football Federation of Sri LankaSource: the-afc.com