Defending champions Don Bosco (Matunga) had to toil hard for their 2-0 win against Billabong International (Malad) in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association-organised boys' U-16 Ahmed Sailor knockout inter-school football match at Azad Maidan yesterday.

The victory helped the Matunga lads advance to the pre-quarters. Don Bosco put up a good combined effort and played with authority to wrest the ascendancy. They were clearly superior to their opponents from Malad and attacked in waves. However, they were unable to translate their superiority into goals and could only manage two strikes, with both goals coming in the second half.