On 5 September 2025, UOC Football hosted UOC Alumni at their home ground in a friendly 11-a-side match that kicked off promptly at 3:00pm. The hosts emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline after a tightly contested 90 minutes plus added time. The win was a testament to UOC Football’s tactical discipline and clinical finishing on the day.
UOC Football lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a setup designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking creativity. Muthusha Chamod took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, providing the last line of defence. The back four consisted of Rashmitha Nilum at right-back, Lawrence Arun and Vimukthi Nanayakkara as the central defensive pairing, and Arshad R operating on the left flank. In midfield, Saddhiq Ahamadh and Anuruth Kaushalya were tasked with controlling the centre of the park, offering both protection to the defence and distribution forward. Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio featured Wendt Edmund on the right wing, Hanan Ahmed in the central attacking midfield role, and Jude Ajay on the left wing. Leading the line was striker Pasindu Prabhath, expected to spearhead the attack and convert chances. The substitutes available for UOC Football were Nimesh Wickramasinghe, Mohomed Ihsan, Chalitha Marambage, Ravindu Fernando, Priyajan Srikantha, Shehan Nonis, and Kalana Ekanayake.
The match began with both sides probing cautiously, but it was UOC Football who made the first tactical change when, in the 40th minute, Nimesh Wickramasinghe replaced Hanan Ahmed in the attacking midfield role. This was swiftly followed by another substitution just before the break, as Mohomed Ihsan came on for Jude Ajay on the left wing. The first half ended goalless, with both teams showing defensive resilience but lacking a cutting edge in the final third.
Early in the second half, UOC Football continued to refresh their squad. At the 55th minute mark, Chalitha Marambage was introduced for right-back Rashmitha Nilum, signalling a shift in defensive personnel. This change paid dividends shortly after as UOC Football broke the deadlock in the 60th minute. Chalitha delivered a precise cross into the box, where central midfielder Saddhiq Ahamadh rose highest to power a header past the goalkeeper, giving the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead.
The goal injected confidence into UOC Football, who pressed on for a second. Their efforts were rewarded in the 75th minute when substitute Nimesh Wickramasinghe provided a clever assist to striker Pasindu Prabhath, who was on hand to slot home a simple tap-in, doubling the advantage. This goal effectively sealed the contest and put UOC Football firmly in control.
Further substitutions followed as UOC Football looked to maintain their lead and manage the game’s tempo. Ravindu Fernando replaced central defender Vimukthi Nanayakkara in the 78th minute, followed by Priyajan Srikantha coming on for fellow centre-back Lawrence Arun two minutes later. The defensive reshuffle continued with Shehan Nonis coming on for Chalitha Marambage and Kalana Ekanayake replacing left-back Arshad R, both substitutions occurring around the 82nd minute.
Throughout the match, UOC Football demonstrated a well-organised defensive structure and effective midfield control, which limited UOC Alumni’s opportunities. The standout performer was undoubtedly Saddhiq Ahamadh, whose headed goal proved decisive and whose overall midfield presence earned him the player of the match accolade.
In summary, UOC Football’s 4-2-3-1 formation allowed them to dominate possession and create key chances, while their timely substitutions ensured fresh legs and tactical flexibility. The 2-0 victory over UOC Alumni was a comprehensive display of teamwork and strategy, leaving the home side in high spirits following this friendly encounter.
