PANAJI
Rosary Higher Secondary School, Navelim, began the New Year on a bright note by qualifying for the senior boys' semi-finals at the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports National Football Championship in Mumbai on Monday.
In their final group match at the Fr Agnel ground, Vashi, Rosary trounced Panampilly Nagar Government Higher Secondary School, Kochi, 4-1 to make the cut. Striker Baggio Fernandes was the hero for the winners notching up a brilliant hat-trick with his goals coming in the 10th, 50th and
60th minutes. Joybert Almeida provided the finishing touches by netting the fourth goal in stoppage time.
The Kochi outfit had managed to hold Rosary 1-1 after Adarsh AS levelled the scores with a 20th minute strike. But after the break, the Goan boys waded into the opposition defence with Baggio leading the charge to record an impressive victory.
It was a quite a comeback by the Navelim lads, who had started off on a losing note when they went down 0-4 to Minerva Public School, Chandigarh. But they showed their resilience by notching back-to-back victories to stay in the hunt for the title.
Rosary finished second from Group A with six points and qualified for the last-four stage along with leaders Minerva Public School, Chandigarh (9 points). The Kochi team finished at the bottom of the group while Sihphir Higher Secondary School, Aizawl were third with three points.
Rosary will face Group B toppers Kapasdanga Satin Sen Vidyapith from Kolkata (7 points), in the semifinal on Wednesday. St Anthony's Higher Secondary School, Shillong (6 points) were the other team to qualify from Group B
However, the second Goan team in the fray on Monday -- Father Agnel College of Commerce and Arts, Pilar -- failed to make the cut in the college boys' category after crashing to a 1-5 defeat at the hands of Shillong's St Anthony's College.
Until half-time both teams looked evenly matched as Chatur Naik pulled Fr Agnel level in the 41st minute after Chanmitre Thma had give St Anthony's the lead with a 26th minute strike.
However, after the break, the Shillong boys stepped up a gear and proved their superiority by pumping in four goals within a span of 19 minutes. Nelson Daloi (63rd minute), Hauni Dkhar (71st minute) and Damehun Syih (76th and 82nd minutes) were the goalscorers for the winners. Midfielder Syih was adjudged player of the match.
Father Agnel finished third in the group with three points while St Anthony's (6 points) and Netaji Nagar Day College, Kolkata (9 points) qualified from Group B. St Joseph's College of Commerce, who lost all their matches, finished at the bottom of the group.
The RFYS National Championship final will be played on January 6 (Saturday) at the Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli.
The Kochi outfit had managed to hold Rosary 1-1 after Adarsh AS levelled the scores with a 20th minute strike. But after the break, the Goan boys waded into the opposition defence with Baggio leading the charge to record an impressive victory.
It was a quite a comeback by the Navelim lads, who had started off on a losing note when they went down 0-4 to Minerva Public School, Chandigarh. But they showed their resilience by notching back-to-back victories to stay in the hunt for the title.
Rosary finished second from Group A with six points and qualified for the last-four stage along with leaders Minerva Public School, Chandigarh (9 points). The Kochi team finished at the bottom of the group while Sihphir Higher Secondary School, Aizawl were third with three points.
Rosary will face Group B toppers Kapasdanga Satin Sen Vidyapith from Kolkata (7 points), in the semifinal on Wednesday. St Anthony's Higher Secondary School, Shillong (6 points) were the other team to qualify from Group B
However, the second Goan team in the fray on Monday -- Father Agnel College of Commerce and Arts, Pilar -- failed to make the cut in the college boys' category after crashing to a 1-5 defeat at the hands of Shillong's St Anthony's College.
Until half-time both teams looked evenly matched as Chatur Naik pulled Fr Agnel level in the 41st minute after Chanmitre Thma had give St Anthony's the lead with a 26th minute strike.
However, after the break, the Shillong boys stepped up a gear and proved their superiority by pumping in four goals within a span of 19 minutes. Nelson Daloi (63rd minute), Hauni Dkhar (71st minute) and Damehun Syih (76th and 82nd minutes) were the goalscorers for the winners. Midfielder Syih was adjudged player of the match.
Father Agnel finished third in the group with three points while St Anthony's (6 points) and Netaji Nagar Day College, Kolkata (9 points) qualified from Group B. St Joseph's College of Commerce, who lost all their matches, finished at the bottom of the group.
The RFYS National Championship final will be played on January 6 (Saturday) at the Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli.
