Amana Takaful Insurance ‘B’ makes history by winning first Mercantile Football Association Futsal/t

Amana Takaful Insurance ‘B’ created history when they lifted the first Mercantile Football Association Futsal/five-a side soccer tournament 2016, which concluded at the Futsal World Indoor Stadium at Darley Road on Sunday.

In a close final, Amana Takaful ‘B’ edged LB Finance on penalties 9-8, the scores stood deadlocked at 4-4 at fulltime. 

Amana Takaful took an early lead through two stinging goals scored by their playmaker, MCM Rifnas and just before the short whistle, M.K.M Shafraz found the net for LBF. Amana Takaful led 2-1 at halftime. 

Early in the second half, M.K.M. Hakeem scored for LBF to draw level at 2-2, Rifnas scored his hat-trick of goals to put Amana Takaful ahead (3-2). The close battle continued as M.K. Fizar scored the equalizer for LBF (3-3).  Amana Takaful once again went ahead when M.C.M. Rizni found the upper part of the net (4-3) just before the final whistle, LBF playmaker M.R.M. Fizar scored a fantastic goal as the game got deadlocked at 4-4.

In the penalty shootout that followed, Amana Takaful scored five while LBF managed only four. 

The tournament got off to a start on Saturday, 3 December with 24 teams playing in eight groups, consisting of 24 matches. At the completion of the league stage on day one, the following 16 teams advanced to the knockout stage: Virtusa and Lake House from Group ‘A’; Amana Takaful ‘A’ and Sri Lanka Telecom from Group ‘B’; HNB and Standard Chartered Bank from Group ‘C’.  

Amana Takaful ‘B’ and Amana Bank from Group ‘D’;  John Keells and Ceylinco Insurance from Group ‘E’;  Sampath Bank and Softlogic Group from ‘F’; LB Finance and Seylan Bank from ‘G’ and Expolanka  Holdings and WNS Global from Group ‘H’.

Pre-quarterfinals results:

Virtusa  beat Standard Chartered Bank 1-0 (Halftime 0-0); John Keells beat Seylan Bank 5-2 (halftime JK led 3-1); Lakehouse beat HNB 3-0 (halftime 2-0); LB Finance beat Ceylinco 1-0 (halftime 1-0); Amana Takaful ‘A’ beat Amana Bank 4-1 (halftime 3-1); WNS Global beat  Sampath Bank 5-1 (halftime 20);  Amana Takaful ‘B’ beat SL Telecom 6-0 (halftime 5-0); Expolanka beat Softlogic 5-0 (halftime ( 3-0)         

Quarterfinals results: 

John Keells beat Virtusa 3-1 (halftime 2-1); LB Finance beat Lake House 4-1 (halftime 3-0); Amana Takaful ‘A’ beat WNS Global on penalties 3-2 (1-1 at fulltime/halftime 1-1); Amana Takaful ‘B’ beat Expolanka 6-2 (halftime – 4-3)

Semifinals results:

LB Finance beat John Keells 3-0 (halftime 1-0); Amana Takaful ‘B’ beat Amana Takaful ‘A’ 7-3 (halftime ‘B’ led 2-1) 

In the playoff for the third place John Keells beat Amana Takaful ‘A’ 4-2; the scores stood 2-2 at halftime. 

Awards were presented by the FFSL President Anura de Silva, FFSL Secretary Anthony Balendra, CEO/FFSL U.L Jaswar and MFA President Saif Yusoof