Fatima High School, Antonio D’Souza begin with wins

Kunal Pawaskar of Fatima High School, Vidyavihar, got his team’s campaign off to a winning start against JJ Academy, Mulund, by scoring the only goal in the Group R match of the boys MSSA Under-16 interschool tournament at Azad Maidan on Friday.

Pawaskar took advantage of the lack of the off-side rule in division four matches, to break free of JJ defence just few minutes from the beginning of play. The left half controlled a pass from the right flank to coolly slot in the winner in the left bottom corner leaving the JJ goalkeeper, Abhishek Goplani, no chance of saving it. JJ were unable to come back, thanks to the resolute defence of Fatima.

Pawaskar said, “Last year our team reached the quarterfinals of this competition. This year, we want to go all the way and win the championship.”

In another Group R match, Antonio D’Souza, Byculla, defeated Swami Vivekanand, Chembur, by a solitary goal. Like Fatima, Antonio D’Souza too were playing their first game of the tournament. The goal was scored by half-time substitute Sharfuddin Khan. Antonio D’Souza got a golden opportunity to double the lead and secure the game five
minutes from the end, when they were awarded a penalty. However, Ebad Ansari, the team’s skipper, blasted the spot kick wide.