The eagerly awaited football campaign of the Inter University Games 2022 kicked off at the South Eastern University in Oluvil on 2nd of December. As anticipated as it is with football, the two days that followed were filled with unexpected and heated moments along with some exhilarating action of football. With the FIFA World Cup currently underway as well, it was a sight to see our fellow undergraduates in action. The final day is yet to pan out with the winner to be decided on the evening of 3rd.
14 teams battled to mark their place within 4 groups, with the leader and the runner-up of a group making their way to the quarter-finals.
Group A: University of Colombo, University of Vavuniya, University of Jaffna
Group B: University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Uva Wellassa University, University of Moratuwa
Group C: Wayamba University, University of Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa University, University of Ruhuna
Group D: University of Peradeniya, Rajarata University, Eastern University, South Eastern University
The first day started with some heavy numbers in the scoreboard with the home side beating Pera 4 : 0, Eastern side dominating over Rajarata side 6 : 0 and Ruhuna overcoming Wayamba 4 : 0. The group stages included penalties which made things quite interesting with a number of matches being decided by penalties. The only non scoring match of the day was Sabara vs Kelaniya.
The second day started off with the quarter-finalists yet to be decided. University of Moratuwa and University of Sri Jayewardenepura marked their places in the quarterfinals early on from Group B with their wins over Uva Wellassa University, but the order of the group was yet to be decided. Group A was the next to follow with University of Jaffna and University of Colombo winning over University of Vavuniya, with the Jaffna side doing so in style with a 7 : 0 victory.
With Group A and B decided on the teams moving forward, it was time for Group C and D. It was quite interesting to see such a close call between the teams. In each group the top three teams were at a position of two wins and one loss. Goal difference marked the qualifiers. In the case of the Sabaragamuwa vs Wayamba match, which was the last match of Group C, had Wayamba won by a 2 or more goal difference, they could’ve made it to the quarters. To be more descriptive it was like this at the end of the group stage.
Group C
Ruhuna (Q) (G.D = 4)
Sabaragamuwa (Q) (G.D = 2)
Wayamba (G.D = -2)
Group D
South Eastern (Q) (G.D = 9)
Eastern (Q) (G.D = 6)
Pera (G.D = -3)
G.D: Goal Difference, Q: Qualified for quarters
In Group D, Pera’s early loss of 4 : 0 against the home side came back to haunt them. University of Jaffna pressed hard on Colombo with a 5 : 0 victory to lead group A and University of Moratuwa comfortably made it as the leaders in group B, winning over Jpura side 3 : 1.
With the group stage under wrap it was time for the quarters.
University of Colombo were the first to mark their place in the semis with a comfortable 2 : 0 victory against University of Ruhuna. The fans of the home side had a heart stopper with their match against the Jpura side tying 1 : 1 at full time and moving along to penalties but the home side made it through. University of Jaffna against the Sabaragamuwa side was another breath taker with both sides not scoring at full time. Yet Jaffna dominated the penalty shoot out 4 : 1, making it through to the semis. The champions of the President’s Gold Cup, University of Moratuwa had to bow out against the Eastern University in a close match of 2 : 1.
The semis are yet to pan out and the crowning of the champions will be decided in the evening of 3rd.
In the semis University of Colombo will face the Eastern University and University of Jaffna will face the South Eastern University. Who will make it as the champions? Will it go North, East or West? Stay tuned with MoraSpirit to catch the action live!
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