Don Bosco pip Stanislaus

February 15: It took nine shots a piece in a nail-biting tie-breaker to provide a finalist to the Boys under-10 event of the MSSA-Colgate...

February 15: It took nine shots a piece in a nail-biting tie-breaker to provide a finalist to the Boys under-10 event of the MSSA-Colgate inter-school hockey tournament at Stanislaus School today. The hosts8217; hopes of an all-Stanislaus final 8212; Stanislaus B had already qualified with a solitary-goal win over St Blaise in the first semi-final 8212; was not to be. Amidst high anxiety, Don Bosco prevailed 5-4 over Stanislaus A, after the two teams were tied 1-1 after extra time.

It must have been a great learning experiences for both teams 8212; one had to only see young Randall Gomes8217; face to realise that. The Stanislaus boy, wearing a sweatband on each wrist, missed his school8217;s last shot; only when he saw the Bosco bench rushing jubilantly to congratulate its team did it dawn on him that his school had lost. He raised his hands to his head in disappointment.

Needless to say, the match ran close. Finalists last year, the teams, surprisingly facing each other in the semi-final, were well balanced, and the talkgoing around the stands was the winner would have a waltz in the final.

Stanislaus went ahead, through the swift Bradley Tellis, after Randall Gomes had reverse stopped and put the ball ahead. Bosco8217;s reply came in first minute of the second half, through Dhruv Panjwani8217;s deflection.

The introduction of Cristof Pereira, who worked well in tandem with the promising Keegan Pereira and Rommel Pereira, brought bite to Stanislaus8217; attacks. At the other end, Harmeet Singh, Appachu Codanda and Volvino D8217;Souza spearheaded Bosco8217;s forays.

The tie-break was tantalising. Bosco custodian Pablo Mascarenhas brought off a few diving saves, but his counterpart Karan Misquitta did likewise. 2-2 after five shies. The sudden death stretched to four more shies, before Volvino D8217;Souza converted his second consecutive push, while Randall failed.

Earlier, St Joseph, Malad again rallied from a 0-1 deficit to advance to the semi-final.

Other results SF

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Boys U-12: St Stanislaus Bandra A8217; 3 Sheehan D8217;Costa,Floyd Dharmai, Shane Vanshipley bt Don Bosco, Matunga 0; St Joseph8217;s Malad 2 Kunal Sompura, Sudeep Paralkar bt Our Lady of Remedy Kandivli 1 Craig D8217;Souza

U-10: St Stanislaus, Bandra B8217; Daniel Martin bt St Blaise, Amboli 0.