Ratnam SC outplayed SL Army SC in the Holcim Cup final at the City Football League, Colombo-2, on August 1 and were able to take the Cup back to their club at Kotahena for the grand 7th time, having last won it, though, a way back in 2005.

The last time the two teams met each other was at the finals of the 2008 Premier League and it was SL Army who beat Ratnam SC to clinch the trophy. Finally, Ratnam SC had their sweet revenge from SL Army as they beat the latter last Saturday.

This year, 112 teams competed in the tournament where 485 goals were scored at matches worked off at 36 venues.

SL Army, who beat Holcim FA Cup defending champions, SL Police, in a penalty shootout tie-breaker in the 1st semi-finals, qualified for the final as Ratnam SC, who got the better of Saunders SC in the 2nd semi, also in a penalty tie-breaker, qualified for the finals to set up an exciting affair last Saturday.

Ratnam SC lost the services of a few of their senior players since they had got involved in various overseas tournaments. Things became worse for them when their Captain and ace forward player Kasun Jayasuriya got injured and in his absence, it was Tharusha Ranga who led the team for the victory with the aid of new young players from whom he got the assistance he needed in the crucial final.

But it was SL Army who drew first blood in the final and, in the 19th minute of the game, their forward player Kalum Premanayake found the net of the opposition to take the lead for SL Army. Things became worse for Ratnam SC just six minutes before half time as Army’s mid fielder N. Pushpakumara headed the ball to Ratnam's net, successfully. So, at lemons, the scoreboard read 2-0 in favour of the SL Army.

But in the 2nd half, Ratnam's kept their hopes alive when, in the 57th minute of the match, their mid field player Dudley Steinwall’s boots found the opposition’s net.

Ten minutes later, Ratnam’s forward Chrishatha Abeysinghe netted another goal finding the much awaited equaliser. The game would be anybody’s affair at that moment but soon Chrishantha netted another goal changing direction of a pass sent by Steinwall, lifting Ratnam’s hopes.

But SL Army found an equaliser in the match once again when their forward player Kalum Premanayake netted the ball just seven minutes before final whistle. The final score was 3 all and the winner had to be adjudged in a penalty shootout tie-breaker.

In the penalties, Dammika Senarath, the goal keeper of Ratnam, saved the first three efforts of SL Army while Ratnam succeeded in netting the first of their three efforts continuously in netting the ball to the soldiers’ goal.

Abeysinghe of Ratnam who netted three goals, including a penalty, was picked as the Most Valuable Player of the Final while Ratnam received the coveted Holcim FA Cup and a cash prize of Rs.250,000.