MARGAO
Compassion Football Academy's U-16 team won the 2nd edition of the Inspire Cup All India Inter Academy football tournament.
The Goan team went down 0-2 to hosts Anantpur Sports Academy in the last league match after having won five of their league matches. Compassion qualified for the finals with a top-two finish and beat Anantpur in the final.
It was a sweet victory for the Goa girls in the presence of a Goan chief guest, Maymol Rocky, the head coach of the Indian national women's U-20 team and the chairman of Goa Football Association women's committee, who was invited by the organisers Rural Development Trust at Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh. The La Liga Foundacion organised the event with seven academy teams from across the country that saw Compassion FA win the title second time in a row.
The first goal was scored in the third minute when skipper Riya Patre’s freekick eluded the defenders and Fatima Braganza made no mistake to put the ball into the net for an early lead. In the 18th minute, Compassion scored the second goal through Pearl Fernandes, who slotted home from close range off a corner taken by Riya. The Anantpur girls rallied and attacked the Goan goal but coach Prakash Khatri’s team did not allow them any room for scoring in the first half.
In the second half, Anantpur's efforts earned them a penalty kick. However, Nandini’s kick was blocked by goalkeeper Ria Rajesh. A few moments later, Ria fumbled and Nandini went on to score the only goal for the host team. The match ended 2-1 in favour of Compassion.
Fatima was awarded the Player of the tournament award for scoring 14 goals with 7 assists and Ria Rajesh won the golden glove after conceding only 4 goals in 7 matches. Nandini was awarded the golden boot for scoring 18 goals.
Compassion FA team: Riya Patre (captain), Jelvi Oliveira, Fatima Braganza, Erica Fernandes, Niel Valadres, Zuriel Tavares, Moncy Vaz, Amelie Nazareth, Amie Ferrao, Ria Rajesh, Geuel D'Souza, Melriya Fernandes, Pramila Gaunkar, Blazia Rebello, Pearl Fernandes, Jacey Vaz, Jazmine Fernandes, Sarita Chhetri, Gauri Hulikavi, Sherry Fernandes; coaches - Prakash Khatri, Sanjay Pillarisett; manager - Elika D’Souza.
