A dramatic penalty shootout decided the fate of the Cup final as St. Mary’s SC overcame Saunders SC 3-1 after a 1-1 deadlock under lights at the Race Course grounds on Saturday.
The match sprang to life in the opening minutes, with St. Mary’s drawing first blood. Danjuma Gumbari struck in the third minute, finishing off a swift attacking move to hand his side an early lead.

Saunders SC wasted no time in responding, leveling the score just two minutes later. Clauvice Franck found the net in the fifth minute, taking advantage of space in the box to restore parity and set up an evenly balanced contest.

Following the early exchange, both teams settled into a competitive rhythm, battling for control in midfield while probing for openings. St. Mary’s looked composed in possession, whereas Saunders relied on quick counterattacks to trouble the opposition defense. Despite their efforts, neither side managed to break the deadlock during regulation time.

With the scoreline unchanged, the final moved into a penalty shootout. St. Mary’s SC kept their composure from the spot, with Danjuma Gumbari, S. Aarinkan, and John Lawani all converting successfully.

Saunders SC, however, faltered under pressure. Mohamed Zaid was the only scorer for his side, while two other attempts missed the target, ultimately sealing their defeat.

The Sri Lanka National Football Team delivered an impressive performance to secure a 3–1 victory against the Chinese Taipei National Football Team on their home ground, marking their second consecutive away win against the same opponents in AFC Qualifiers action.

Coming into the match, Chinese Taipei held a higher FIFA ranking at 174, compared to Sri Lanka’s 194. However, rankings proved irrelevant on the day as Sri Lanka showcased resilience, discipline, and clinical finishing to dominate key moments of the game. This crucial win is expected to provide a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s FIFA standing, with projections suggesting a climb to around the 190 mark.

Sri Lanka opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Rahul Suresh, who capitalized on a well-constructed attacking move to give the visitors an early advantage. Building on that momentum, Niloshan Senthurvasan doubled the lead in the 26th minute, finishing confidently to put Sri Lanka firmly in control before halftime.

The second half saw Sri Lanka extend their lead further when Chinese Taipei defender Christoper Tiao inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 53rd minute, making it 3–0. Despite the setback, the hosts responded quickly, with Yao-Shing Yu finding the net in the 55th minute to pull one back and keep hopes alive.

However, Sri Lanka maintained composure for the remainder of the match, effectively managing the game and limiting further scoring opportunities for the home side. Their defensive organization and midfield control played a crucial role in preserving the lead until the final whistle.

Sri Lanka’s journey at the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026 came to a dramatic and painful end after a last-gasp goal handed Bhutan a 1-0 victory in their decisive group-stage clash in Malé, Maldives.

With a place in the semi-finals on the line, the match carried high stakes for both sides. Sri Lanka entered the contest knowing only a positive result would keep their campaign alive, and they responded with a disciplined and energetic performance. The young Sri Lankan side showed composure in defense while attempting to build attacking momentum against a well-organized Bhutan team.

Chances, however, were at a premium. Sri Lanka managed to create a few half-opportunities but were unable to convert, as the Bhutanese defense held firm. As the match wore on, tension grew, with both teams aware that a draw would not be enough to secure progression.
Just as it seemed the game would end in stalemate, Bhutan struck a decisive blow in stoppage time. Forward Dhendup Gyeltshen capitalized on a momentary lapse in the Sri Lankan defense to score in the 90+2 minute, silencing hopes of a late turnaround and sealing all three points for his side.