The Goan Network
Panaji
As Group stage action draws to a close in the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports School Football, the battle for the top spot and qualification to the knockout also heats up. Group D saw another action packed match where Marina English High School took on Loyola High School at the Father Agnel Grounds in Verna. The match saw great last minute action from Marina HS as they scored two late goals to go top of the Group.
In what was a story of two halves, the first half saw Loyola School clearly emerge as the dominant side as they attacked the Marina High School defense with potent threat from their strikers. Loyola managed to go ahead in the 14th minute when Saniward Pereira scored for his side. Loyola’s lead was soon doubled in the 18th minute when Xavier D'mello bagged another for his team. The day before’s exhaustion had clearly gone to Marina as they appeared tired and out of their depth. Marina failed to answer back in the first half as Loyola went into the break with a 2-goal lead.
The second half saw Marina emerge confident and rejuvenated after the coach’s halftime team talk and saw them get a goal back in the 31st minute when Roystom Braganza scored to reduce the deficit to just one goal. Marina had soon got control of the game and they started creating the better chances of the two sides. Loyola's defense looked strong until the final stages of the match when Marina brought the game level in the 54th minute through number 4 Britto Pereira. Marina High would complete their resurgence in the second half as they would score the winner just a minute from full time in the 59th minute when Roystom Braganza scored to hand his side the 3-2 victory.
The come from behind win saw Marina High School go top again of Groud D with 6 points with Fr Agnel in second position having their match later in the day against Santa Cruz High School.
Scorelines:
GROUP B: Perpetual Succour High School 2 beat Our Lady Carmel High School 1; Adarsh V.V. High School 0 lost to Our Lady Mother of the Poor High School 3
GROUP D: Marina English High School 3 beat Loyola High School 2
