Defender Joel scores only goal and turns 'keeper to save a penalty as last year's runners-up St Stanislaus (Bandra) defeat St Lawrence (Kandivli) 1-0 in under-16 Division I tournament
St Stanislaus' (Bandra) Joel Barnes (left) battles for the ball with St Lawrence's (Kandivli) Anurag Tawde during MSSA Division I U-16 inter-school tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
Joel Barnes' lone goal proved to be the difference as last year's runners-up St Stanislaus (Bandra) defeated St Lawrence (Kandivli) 1-0 to kick-start this season's Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) under-16 Division I inter-school football tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday.
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Under perfect weather conditions, both schools gave each other a tough fight right from the very beginning. However, it took only 21 minutes for the Bandra outfit to open their account when defender Joel, who got hold of the ball in his own half, made a sprint to the opposition territory, covering at least 45 yards and hammered it into the net.
Splendid work
St Lawrence strengthened their attack after the first goal was scored. They were even awarded a penalty when Stanislaus' Saurabh Gupta was shown a yellow card in the 22nd minute. However, it was not Stanislaus' regular goalkeeper Saurabh Mayekar, but Joel who donned the 'keeper's gloves for the penalty and was successful.
Switching sides, Stanislaus were toying with St Lawrence. The 14-year-old Joel displayed versatility in his game, taking care of defensive as well as attacking duties.
The Bandra side were enjoying their impressive tiki taka game as St Lawrence surprisingly displayed no resistance. This was the first win for St Stanislaus under new coach Henry Picardo, who is a former Mumbai FC team manager and ex-Air India player. “I am really happy with my team after this win. As the tournament progresses, you will see a different Stanislaus team that be display even a higher brand of football,” Picardo told mid-day yesterday.
Don Bosco 'B' win 6-0
Earlier in the day, during another Division I match, St Joseph (Wadala) drew 1-1 with St Francis D'Assisi (Borivli). Anish Pokarkar scored in the 37th minute for the Wadala team, while Hansel Lobo scored for the Borivli outfit. Meanwhile, in a Division II match, Don Bosco 'B' (Matunga) hammered Colaba Muncipal School 6-0. Atharva Jadhav and Kush Sampat scored a brace each while Joel Rodrigues and Shyam Redekar scored a goal apiece. In another match, St Xavier's (Fort) beat Utpal Sanghvi (Juhu) 2-0. Xavier's skipper Aditya Varma netted the first goal in the 14th minute, while Rohit Sarwankar registered his name on the score sheet in the 45th minute.
Hansraj bt St Joseph 2-1
Hansraj Morarji (Andheri) beat St Joseph (Malad) 2-1. For Hanraj Morarji, Tej Vesavkar and Soham Khanwilkar scored, while Leander Lobo netted a goal for St Joseph (Malad).
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