Super-sub custodian Kapadia repeats her quarter-final and semi-final tie-breaker heroics in Div-I summit clash, making two vital saves in 2-1 win over Jamnabai Narsee
Cathedral’s Vedita Kapadia makes a save during the tie-breaker
When the final whistle blew at the Wings Sports Centre in Bandra, it wasn’t a striker who stole the spotlight, instead it was Cathedral and John Connon’s (Fort) calm and composed goalkeeper Vedita Kapadia. She came off the bench and made two vital saves in the penalty shootout before converting her own spot-kick, to help her team beat Jamnabai Narsee (Juhu) 2-1 and clinch the Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) girls U-16 Division-I title on Tuesday.
Known for her quick reflexes and steely nerves, Vedita made the difference yet again — she had also similarly excelled in penalty shootout victories against Bombay Scottish (Mahim) and Bombay Scottish (Powai) in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.
The Cathedral and John Connon girls with their trophy after beating Jamnabai Narsee in the MSSA Division-I final on Tuesday. Pics/Atul Kamble
Instinctive saves
With the tie hanging in the balance, in the shootout, Vedita denied Aarna Panchal and Adrika Shukla of Jamnabai Narsee with sharp instinctive saves after Cathedral’s Ilisha Mandot and Saesha Kedia had missed their first two spot-kicks. However, Anasurya Raju converted the Fort outfit’s third kick before Vedita stepped up and scored to seal the win. Saisha Kanwat was the lone scorer for the Juhu side.
Vedita’s penalty-saving ability has been on display throughout the knockout stages. She saved three penalties in the quarter-finals (during a 3-2 win) and two in the semi-finals (during a 4-3 victory) before her double saves in the final.
Interestingly, her choice of jersey number (18) is based on her idol, India cricketer Virat Kohli. “His [Kohli’s] hard work and ability to perform under pressure are an inspiration for me and my team,” said Vedika.
With the Cathedral boys lifting their maiden U-16 Division-I title a day earlier at the same venue, this win was a sweet and much-
deserving double triumph for the school.
AVM (Juhu) finish third
Meanwhile, Arya Vidya Mandir (Juhu) secured a 2-0 win over Bombay Scottish (Powai) in the third-place playoff. Radhika Vyas (16th min) and Meera Toolsidass (22nd) were the scorers.
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