MSSA: Don Bosco overcome St Joseph's, enter final

Don Bosco High School ‘A' (Matunga) defeated St Joseph's High School ‘A' (Malad west) 2-0 in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) - Mumbai Indians-Mumbai City FC boys U-8, five-a-side football league Div I semi-final at Lower Parel yesterday.

Don Bosco High School (Matunga) and St Joseph's High School (Malad) players during the five-a-side football league Division I semi-final at Lower Parel yesterday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Bosco scored both the goals in first half and then held on from there to emerge winners. The first goal for Don Bosco came when Prithvi Padwal finished a pass from captain Yohan Panjwani.

Ayush Kharat doubled the lead after he curled the ball directly into the goal from a corner.

However, it was an altogether a different ball game in the second half as St Joseph's fought back hard to reduce the goal margin.

But Bosco's goalkeeper Atharva Gaonkar nullified St Joseph's efforts with two good saves to keep his team's lead intact. Don Bosco's coach Leslie Machado lauded the initiative. "This is a very good initiative as it helps players' improve their footballing skills. Here, you play man-to-man and you have to be always on the move," Machado said.

Don Bosco will next face Bombay Scottish School (A) (Mahim) in the final on February 11.