Sharma powers Atomic to title

MUMBAI, SEPT 10: Sunil Sharma's brace for Atomic Energy, Chembur, helped them to win the under-16 Division IV title beating Sacred Hearts...

MUMBAI, SEPT 10: Sunil Sharma8217;s brace for Atomic Energy, Chembur, helped them to win the under-16 Division IV title beating Sacred Hearts, Santacruz 2-1 in the final of the Inter-Schools football championship, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, at the Mumbai Schools Sports Association Ground, Azad Maidan today.

Atomic Energy shot into the lead in the fifth minute of the match when Sharma thumped a dead ball from close range. On a murky ground, the ball wasn8217;t moving so the players were adjusting to the conditions.

In the middle of first-half, Jonathan Miranda brought back the equaliser to keep the match open. His long ranger dipped into the goal even as the Atomic 8216;keeper Purna expected the ball to fly over.

The second-half witnessed more attacking game than the first-half. Both teams made their first endeavour for title.

But Sharma8217;s brilliance saw the Chembur school win the trophy. On a cross off, Jitendra Palekar, Santacruz goalkeeper, fumbled and ball went through his legs. Sharma dived from closerange and bulged the net with a sliding tap.

For Sacred Heart, right-winger Nigel D8217;Souza had good runs and some of his crosses on the goal-mouth threatened the Atomic Energy goal. But his team was unlucky as none of his attempts were converted into goals.

For Atomic Energy, the defence comprising Laxman Suryavanshi, Sandeep B and Anand V did not allow Hearts strikers much space to build attacks.

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Sacred Heart showed fine spirit even when 1-2 down. In the dying minutes, another goal-threatening attempt was initiated by Sebastian Fernandes. But a good save by Atomic Energy 8216;keeper Purna saved the day for Chembur School.

RESULTS:

At D8217;Assisi, Borivli: Francis D8217;Assisi 4 Dipesh Shetty 2, Saumil Aditya, Canver Rodrigues bt Our Lady of Remedy 0; St Anne8217;s 2 Carlton Pius, Gary Rodrigues bt Our Lady of Remedy 0; St Francis D8217;Assisi B 2 Roshan Shetty, Sahil Mehara bt Don Bosco 0

At St Stanislaus School, Bandra: Holy Family A Arzan Patel drew with St Stanislaus B 1 Utkrish Kaushik;St Andrew8217;s A Alex Thomas bt Learners Acad 0

At Azad Maidan: Hindi Vidya Bhavan, Marine Lines 1 Dilip Choudhry bt Scholar School 0; Seventh Day Adventist 2 Irfan Shaikh, Mudassir Shaikh bt St Anthony, Vakola 0; Atomic Energy Central School 2 Sunil Sharma 2 bt Sacred Heart, Santacruz 1 Jonathan Miranda