Ten man Renown SC pulled off a hard fought 1-0 win over their opponents Blue Star SC in the Semi Final of the “Dialog” Champions League 2009 played at the City Football Complex yesterday.

The match started off at a frantic pace with Renown SC pushing into their opponents half regularly. The Renown forwards made some fine runs into the Blue Star box but their offside trap worked well and the defenders held a fine line to catch the Renown forwards offside a few times and the Blue Star goal-keeper S. Kumara Fernando put up a brave effort to keep the marauding Renown attack in check. And each time the Blue Star boys looked like moving forward with the ball they were greeted with some crunching tackles to stop them in their tracks

Renown SC on the attack. – Pic by Saman Kariyawasam

The best chance of the first half came to Mohamed Fazal of Renown - off a brilliant cross by Mohamed Imtiyaz - but he failed to find the target. Fazal got another chance to put his side ahead but the shot struck the upright to his dismay.

The first half ended at nil-all with both sides having to show more composure with the ball at their feet.
The second half started off with Renown making early inroads into Blue Star territory but the Blue Star defense led by their dynamic Goalie put up desperate defense. Blue Star seemed to have got some respite when Kumara Lenard was dealt a second yellow card and was sent off in the 68th minute but Renown didn’t seem to know that they were down by one man as they kept on attacking and were
rewarded for their effort with a brilliant goal off the head by Mohamed Ismeth catching the Blue Star goalie on the wrong foot in the 83rd minute off another beautiful corner kick by Imtiyas. The match ended with the score at 1-0 for Renown SC to step into the final.

The game was refereed by Aruna De Silva.

Don Bosco SC and Air Force SC will meet in the second semi final today at the City Football Complex.