In a thrilling face-off on Wednesday, St Xavier’s High School (Mira Road) secured a dramatic 1-1 draw against Dr S Radhakrishnan (Malad) in the MSSA inter-school football tournament held at the St Francis D’Assisi ground in Borivli. The match, which saw a last-minute equalizer, left both teams sharing the points in the third division league contest.
The action began early in the game with Dr S Radhakrishnan’s team grabbing an advantage. At the 14th minute, Yash Vishwakarma’s towering header broke the deadlock. The goal followed a precise delivery by Josiah Chettiar from a right-side free-kick. Vishwakarma’s teammates quickly surrounded him to celebrate this early lead, which set the tone for an intensely competitive match.
St Xavier’s, however, demonstrated resilience throughout the game. Despite being a goal down, they maintained pressure and looked for opportunities to break through Dr S Radhakrishnan’s defense. Their efforts bore fruit in the dying moments of the match. As the clock wound down, a chaotic goalmouth melee saw Asil Mujawar finding himself in the right place at the right time to tap the ball into the net, making it 1-1 just before the final whistle.
The match ended in jubilation for St Xavier’s and disappointment for Dr S Radhakrishnan, who had controlled a significant portion of the game. Both teams will now look to future fixtures to improve their standings in the tournament.
Earlier in the day, there were other fixtures that drew attention with notable performances. Navy Children School (Colaba) dominated their match against Ryan International School (Chembur) with an overwhelming 10-0 victory. The encounter was one-sided from beginning to end.
. Yatharth Bhatt, Nameesh Shah, and Himanshu Kumar emerged as the key players by scoring two goals each. Additionally, Yuvraj Gahlot, Arun Parmar, and Devraj Gupta each contributed one goal to the tally, complemented by an unfortunate own-goal from Ryan International.
Navy Children School’s performance was a masterclass in teamwork and offensive play, leaving Ryan International to regroup and rethink their strategies for upcoming matches.
In another tightly contested match, Thakur Public School (Kandivli) triumphed over St Francis ICSE with a 2-0 victory. Aryan Bongane and Aadi Tembulkar were the heroes of the match, each netting crucial goals to secure their team’s win.
Thakur Public School’s systematic defense and precise attacks showcased their discipline and strategy, which eventually led to their well-deserved victory.
Adding to the day’s excitement, St Anthony’s High School (Malwani) earned a solid 3-0 win against St Joseph’s High School (Juhu). The Koli trio—Christiano, Krish, and Daksh Koli—each scored a goal, displaying remarkable synergy and offensive prowess. Their coordinated efforts on the field allowed St Anthony’s to maintain control and secure a comfortable win.
The MSSA inter-school football tournament continues to provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and is drawing considerable interest from sports enthusiasts in the region. The closely fought matches and standout individual performances illustrate the high level of competition and talent within the schools.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on the upcoming fixtures, with teams aiming to build momentum and climb up the league standings. The recent matches have set a high bar for excitement and competitiveness, promising more thrilling football action in the days to come.
In summary, the day’s matches underscored the unpredictability and excitement of the MSSA inter-school football tournament. St Xavier’s dramatic late equalizer, Navy Children School’s dominant performance, and the disciplined victories by Thakur Public School and St Anthony’s High School all contributed to a memorable day of school football at the St Francis D’Assisi ground.
