The Dialog Champions League 2018-19 ended last Wednesday with Defenders SC (Army) winning the coveted trophy beating one time champions Blue Star SC from Kalutara 4-1.
The match was witnessed by a large gathering of spectators who were treated with good football after many years.
The Defenders took the field with confidence and got off to a fine start when in only three minutes their main striker scored to put his side on the winning track. From there on it was left for the Kalutara lads to fight to penetrate the defence line of their opponents to come to equal terms which was thwarted by the soldiers.
Defenders player M. A. Asikoor Rahuman netted in the second goal to move further ahead of Bluer Star SC and the game got hotter with the Kalutara team using all their experience and skills to reduce the lead held by their opponents and they were able to get the most needed goal with a few seconds away from the break when Nigerian striker Uwanaka Ifeanyl Chimexie netted the goal.
For nearly 37 minutes both teams displayed the best football with the intention of grabbing the Trophy. Rahuman made things worse for Blue Star when he netted in the third goal and his second goal for Defenders to seal victory.
The winner received the Dialog Champions Trophy and a cash award of rupees one million while the runner-up carried away Rs.700,000 and the second runner-up 500,000.
Askoor Rahuman was declared as the Most Valuable Player and Defenders goalkeeper Mohamed Lufthi received the Golden Glove Award.