Fatorda: Auxilium High School, Benaulim, St Joseph High School, Aquem and St Alex Higher Secondary School, Curtorim made it to the quarterfinals of Subroto Mukherjee Cup football for boys under-17(Salcete Zone) after chalking out wins in their respective matches played at artificial turf grounds, Fatorda-Margao on Wednesday.
In the first match, Auxilium HS registered a hard-fought solitary goal win over Mount Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Chinchinim.
The all-important goal for Auxilium HS came off in the 18th minute as attacking medio Diego Goes after receiving a diagonal pass from the centre unleashed a powerful shot that gave no chance at all to Adison Fernandes, the goalkeeper of Mount Mary’s HSS, who otherwise had a good day under the bar.
Both the teams matched each other well in all the departments of the game as they both moved the ball well on both the flanks and increased the tempo whenever required to try and find the mark.
For the first fifteen minutes, the ball swung from one end to the other indicating that a goal is imminent at any time on either side.
After both the teams survived some pressing attacks, Auxilium HS suddenly went all out for the kill and their efforts paid rich dividends when Aulon Faleiro collected the ball on the centre circle, dribbled a couple of Mount Mary’s players and then deftly passed the ball to Diego who ran solo and then banged the ball to the far corner of the nets.
The match then rose to some dizzy heights with both the teams going for the kill. While the defence of both the teams stood firm, the midfield on either side too put in their best efforts as they spread the ball well to find a goal.
Mount Mary’s Alvito Chagas, Aulon Falcao, Muzaffar Hussein, Jordan Fernandes and M Fernandes worked hard in the defence as well as in the midfield while their goalkeeper Adison too gave a good account.
Mount Mary’s tried hard to get the leveller after going into the arrears but the defence of Auxilium HS stood firm.
Just a few minutes before the final hooter, Diego once again was in the thick of action but his well-taken shot was safely collected by the rival keeper who proved to be a good pair of hands.
Auxilium HS’s Declan Goes, Azan Mulla and Stevan Rodrigues gave a good account of themselves along with their keeper who also stood tall whenever the situation demanded.
In the second match, Reanzil Barreto’s hat-trick enabled St Joseph HS, Aquem blank Manovikas English Medium School, Margao 3-0. Reanzil scored in the 10th, 40th and 50th minute.
In the last match of the day, St Alex HSS, Curtorim edged out Rosary HS, Navelim by a solitary goal. Kevin Kasolkar scored the match winner in the 42nd minute.