PANJIM: Infant Jesus High School, Colva registered a hard fought 2-0 penalty shoot-out win over strong contenders Loyola High School, Margao, in the final to emerge champions in the VIII all Goa U-12 football tournament, organised by Sporting Clube de Goa in association with Don Bosco High School, Panaji.
The final went into the tie-breaker after both teams failed to find the nets in regulation time. In the tiebreaker, just as in the semis, it was again Steward Falcao and Sahil Mohamed who scored from the first two kicks for Infant Jesus while Loyala’s Shane Fernandes and Ashnoy Gomes had the mortification of seeing their shots hit the post and bounce out. St. Clara’s beat Fr. Agnel Pillar 1-0 to bag the third place with Soham Oli scoring the winner.
In the league phase, Infant Jesus Colva topped Group A. ahead Don Bosco Greens, St. Josephs Blue and St Xaviers Moira.
In Group B, St Clara’s Asonora made it to the semi-finals getting the better of Auxilium High School,Taleigao, Don Bosco White and Our Lady of Perpetual Succor, Cortalim.
In Group C Fr. Agnel Pillar won by toss of coin after they were tied with Sacred Heart, Anjuna on 7 points each, as well as on head to head and goal difference. SCG Academy White and St Josephs Calangute Orange were the other two teams in the group.
In Group D Loyala High School Margao were run away winners with an all win record over Don Bosco Tuem, Sporting Clube Academy Orange and Santo Minguel Taleigao.
In the first Semi-finals Loyala HighSchool scored a narrow 1-0 win over Fr. Agnel, Pillar with Ashwell scoring the match winner, The second semi-finals Infant Jesus Colva and St Clara’s Assonora played out a goalless draw. Infant Jesus won 2-1 in the tie breaker. Steward Falcao and Sahil Mohammed scored for the winners and Soham Oli found the nets for St Clara’s
The tournament’s Most Promising Player award was bagged by Ashwell Gonsalves of Loyola while Soham Oli of St. Clara’s Asonora won the Highest Scorer of the Tournament award.
Apart from the trophies, the winners, runners-up, third and fourth placed teams received Rs.10,000, Rs.6,000, 4,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively. The players and officials of the semi-finalist teams, as well as all the volunteers involved in the tournament were presented with specially designed mementos.
The tournament was inaugurated by the chief guest Fr. Savio Gomes, Principal of Don Bosco HSS and Rector of Don Bosco Panjim, who later presented the prizes along with Fr. Avin Carvalho, Principal of Don Bosco High School. The tournament was conducted by Sporting Youth Coaches, Savio Vaz, Keegan Bast, Vikram Mane and Anthony Vaz under the coordination of Competition Director Angelo Albuquerque and General Secretary Edward Noronha.
