the senior boys of Government HSS, Panampally Nagar, Kochi booked a spot in the final of RFYS National Football Championship, on Wednesday.
A brilliant goal by Josy Joseph in the dying minutes of the semi-final clash against Govt. Higher Secondary School, Goa helped Govt. HSS, Panampally Nagar, Kochi book a berth in the final.
The match witnessed both teams creating a lot of chances but neither of them could convert any of them. As the match headed towards a potential extra time to decide the finalist, Josy found the back of the net in the 88th minute to put his team a goal ahead with a remaining regulation time of 2 minutes.
The boys from Kochi ensured that they do not concede any goals to become the first finalist in the Senior Boys category.
Fr Agnel Multipurpose School and Junior College, Mumbai is the other team to qualify in the senior boys category having taken down the spirited boys from Mamta Modern Sr. Sec. School, Delhi in the nerve-wracking penalty shootout at Cooperage ground, Colaba.
Mayur Adhikari, who made a crucial strike in the shootout for Mumbai and showed excellent skills throughout the game, was named the player of the match.
In the College boys category, Nirmala College, Kochi and Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai went head-to-head against each other with the former stealing a 2-1 win over the latter to qualify for the final.
Kolkata’s Charuchandra College beat Goa’s Rosary College, Navelim in a close encounter which ended with a 3-1 score line to qualify for the finals. Charuchandra College headed into the break with a 1-0 lead. Md. Farid doubled the lead for Charuchandra in the 70th minute. A good comeback for Roasary College with Snedden Medeira pulling one goal back with a stunner of a left foot. Charuchandra sealed the deal with their 3rd goal in the 90th minute. Despite ending on the losing side, Goa’s Sneddon Medeira, who has been excellent for his team throughout the tournament, was awarded the player of the match.
