Team Herald
MURIDA-FATORDA: Loyola High School Margao, St Vincent’s High School Pune, Loyola High School Pune qualified for semi-finals of the Loyola Platinum Cup on Thursday.
St Stanislaus High School, Mumbai got the better of St Paul’s High School, Belgaum by a solitary goal. St Vincent’s High School defeated St. Joseph’s Boys’ High School, Bangalore 1-0. The match between St. Britto High School and Loyola High School, Pune turned out to be a goalless draw.
Loyola High School, Margao overpowered St Mary’s School, Mumbai to a 2-1 victory.
Loyola having already qualified for the semis made a few changes in their playing eleven with the likes of Rui Noronha and Loyel Vaz watching the proceeding from the substitute bench. On the other hand, St Mary’s were playing for pride having lost all hopes of qualifying for the semis. Loyola’s defence put up an improved show with specially Hayden Fernandes showing great resilience to thwart any threats from their opponents. Loyola’s attempt at goal in the 12th minute of the first half sailed over the cross bar. In the next minute, Mazaltov Rodrigues’s long ranger was comfortably saved by the St Mary’s goalkeeper.
Just minutes before the end of the first half, the referee signalled a spot kick when Mazaltov Rodrigues was brought down in the St Mary’s penalty area.
Hayden Fernandes maintained his composure to convert the penalty with a fine placement in the 19th minute.
In the second half, St. Mary’s came with renewed vigour to level the score. A brilliant cross from the flanks was netted by Vedant Sathe for St Mary’s.
A bit rattled at this development, Loyola pulled up their socks.
Substitute Rui Noronha contributed when it mattered the most. His impeccable spot kick forty metres from the rival goalpost sailed directly into the net, leaving the St. Mary’s goalkeeper completely clueless. The man of the match was Denver Rodrigues of Loyola High School.
Loyola, were leaders in Group A and St. Vincent’s (Pune) were runners up in Group A.
