Inter-school football: Makeshift 'keeper no problem for Xavier's

Enroy D'Souza's fine work under the bar as a makeshift goalkeeper helped St Xavier's High School (Vile Parle) enter the final of the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school boys' under-16 Division IV football tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday.

St Xavier's makeshift goalkeeper Enroy D'Souza (centre) celebrates after helping his school beat Fazlani in the boys' under-16 inter-school Division IV football tie at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

After playing out a goalless draw in the full time, the semifinal clash headed into the penalty shootout with St Xavier's eventually beating Fazlani School (Mazagaon) 2-0 on penalties. While the first half was drab, there was some excitement in the second half when Fazlani's Armaan Adenwala missed converting two free kick opportunities after being fouled by Xaviers' defenders Safwaan Solanki and Dwayne Alphonso.

In the shootout, St Xavier's regular goalkeeper Abdul Hamid Shaikh made way for Enroy, who successfully saved shots from Fazlani's Kalash Mehta, Armaan Adenwala and Pratham Mehta. For St Xavier's, Aarav D'Almeda and Joshua D'Souza were on target. An elated Enroy told mid-day: "We played as a team and I am pleased to be on the winning side. The only thing on my mind during the shootout was to save goals."