MARGAO: Brimming with confidence and bolstered by the presence of seven international players who have represented India at the age group level, the U-18 Goan girls started off their campaign at the Junior Nationals Girls Championships with a ruthless 31-0 victory over a hapless Jammu and Kashmir team, at Navelim’s Rosary sports complex, on Tuesday.
Captain of the Goa team Velanie Fernandes’ finishing was the main highlight of the match are she scored nine goals, most of which were solo efforts.
Velanie got outstanding support from the strong mid-field play of Cianna Lobo and Lifa Gama, both of whom scored four goals each. Anline Sharmila Fernandes scored four goals and Marlat Cardozo also contributed with four goals. Sushmita Jadav from Moira scored a hat-trick while Avia Jeans Vas, Scindia Saudatikar and Cynthia Lobo chipped in with a goal each for the final big margin of 31 goals to nil. The Goa girls next face Telangana on October 10, at the same venue, at 7.30 a.m.
In another match, Jharkhand scored a resounding 5-1 win over Kerala in their first match.
Jharkhand drew first blood and struck in the 20thmin through Puja Kumari. Kerala got right back in the game and equalized in the very next minute with a goal from Anagha P, who lobbed in beautifully catching goalkeeper Mamta completely off-guard. The match seemed to be heading into a stalemate when Jharkhand regrouped and gradually established control over the game after the equalizer. They scored three quick goals, the first in the 36th minute with Puja Toppo giving them a 2-1 lead and then Puja Kumari put Jharkhand 3-1 ahead with a fine goal in the 39th minute.
Mamta Kumari put Jharkhand in a very comfortable 4-1 lead with a goal in the 40thminute.
In the second half, Jharkhand were on the attack non-stop, with the Kerala girls wilting under the incessant raids from the Jharkhand forwards, looked like a depleted team and did not give a fight back. Jharkhand scored their fifth goal to have any chance of a Kerala come back with a strike in the 57th minute by Anamika Kumari.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh grounded Himachal Pradesh 2-0 while West Bengal outclassed Gujarat 9-0 and Mizoram thumped Uttar Pradesh 7-0.
