Hi-five for Stanislaus

MUMBAI, JULY 26: Defending champions St Stanislaus School romped into the Under-16 1st Division final of the MSSA-Colgate Inter-School Fo...

MUMBAI, JULY 26: Defending champions St Stanislaus School romped into the Under-16 1st Division final of the MSSA-Colgate Inter-School Football Tournament. The Bandra side drubbed Don Bosco Matunga 5-1 at the St Xavier8217;s Ground, Parel, on Monday.

In the other semi-final, St Mary8217;s ISC prevailed over St Francis D8217;Assisi by a solitary first-half goal.

It was perhaps the worst hiding the Bosco boys ever received in their impressive football history, but it came at the hands of a team that served a heady combination of flair in attack and solidity in defence. The Bandra boys has unfailingly won titles for their school for the past five years. It was not hard to see why.

Minutes after the game started, Stanislaus forwards Yohann Pereira, Delano D8217;Souza and Kyle Mascarenhas were making the Bosco defence look like porous Swiss cheese 8212; too many holes.

Backing the troika was Stanislaus8217; strapping centre-half Gavin Aguiar 8212; easily the most impressive player of the tournament 8212; and the deft-dribbling Vikram Noronha to his left.

Another player who caught the eye was the quick-silver Jonathan Fernandes, who lent the defence charm and glamour rarely seen in the usually grim and practical back-benchers.

The first goal came from Delano D8217;Souza8217;s boots, after Yohann did the hard work on the left flank. The second was a beauty, underlining Gavin Aguiar8217;s power. A 30-yarder from mid-field boomed past the flailing hands of Bosco custodian Swapnil Pereira.

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Minutes later, Yohann got his first, zipping in from the left and scoring on the run. Bosco pulled one back soon after, through Kunal Kotian8217;s header, the first time in the league that Stanislaus 8216;keeper Carl Mascarenhas was beaten. But prospects of revival and a grand showdown were soon scotched, when Yohann went around a sluggish Clayton Albuquerque to score his second. He could have completed the hat-trick, but, with only the goalkeeper to beat, shot wide.

Stanislaus chose to withdraw their forces, and gave the boys on the bench a chance to go home and tell their parents about the role they played in the match.

Even then, defender Jonathan rightfully provided the sign-off, scoring a solo after running unchallenged through the centre of the field.

MARY8217;S ISC WIN: An opportunistic header by St Mary8217;s Benze Ninan early in the first half proved crucial in the second semi-final. With Benze, Farshid Cooper, Brian Gia and Karan Durante doing a good job in attack, the pressure on Assisi never relented. Karan Fernandes, Vivek Gupta and Anmol Karanam were impressive in defence, but the Assisi forward line looked unlikely to make any inroads. The only chance came in the second half, when Liston Fonseca pulled one back on the right flank and minused to Vishal Haria. Haria8217;s shot sailed over the bar.

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For Assisi, Nishit Karkera and Savio Pereira did well in the midfield. Adam Alfonso ploughed the left-wing tirelessly, while Frankson Thattara, Harish Nair and Rakesh Kharekar were solid in defence. Alas, despite coach John Alphonso substituting the forwards, they could not score.