MAPUSA: Goa shot out Kerala 3-2 via the tie-breaker to emerge winners of the Amateur 9-a-side Sub Junior U-15 boys inter-state football tournament organised by the Nine A Side Football Federation of India and held at Maksi, Madhya Pradesh.
There was no score at regulation time.
In the semi-final, Goa beat Karnataka 2-0 and in the quarter-final got the better of Haryana via penalties, 4-2.
Goa was placed in group A along with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. They defeated Haryana and Karnataka to play the final with Kerala which was a very young side.
Goa participated for the first time in this tournament and emerged victorious.
There were a total of 18 teams that participated in the tournament.
The 9-a-side Football Association of Goa was formed six years ago and is affiliated to the Nine A Side Football Federation of India.
There was a victory run and welcome held at the Thivim railway station. The top scorer from Goa and player of the final was Rajankumar Mahato. While the player-of-the-tournament was the Goan goalkeeper, Shantanu Sawant.
The coach of the team, James D’souza and the Manager, Tushar Bhagat accompanied the team.
“We were possible contenders of winning the cup all through as Goa fought hard and took the game into penalties wherein Goa won 3-2. Earlier the team also beat Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and drew with Chhattisgarh. Our defence stood strong and had a hand behind us winning the tournament,” said the coach James.
