On a high-scoring day which saw a total of 55 goals being scored, Goa hammered 31 of them to kick off their Junior Under 18 Girls National Football Championship in style
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Hosts Goa set a record of sorts as they rode on skipper Velanie Fernandes' nine-goal blitz to teach a happless Jammu & Kashmir a stringent lesson in football, clobbering 31 goals in a Group F league match of Junior Under 18 Girls National Football Championship at Rosary grounds, Navelim on Tuesday.
This was Goa's opening game of their campaign and what more could they have asked for on a day where 55 goals were scored and Goa contributed a whopping 31 of the entire tally.
The Goan charge was led by their striker and captain Velanie and she was ably assisted by Ciana Lobo,Lifa Gama,Anline Fernandes,Marlet Cardozo who scored four goals each.Sushmita Jhadav struck thrice while Avia Vaz,Scindia Sundatikar and Cynthia Lobo scored a goal each.
The profolic striker Velanie showed great opportunism as she pumped in nine goals finding the net in the 4th,15th,22nd,25th,27th,33rd,37th,48th and 50th minute which also included a triple hat-trick.
To add to J&K's misery, Goa fielded seven international players and this was too much for the visiting girls to handle as they were reduced to mince meat.
Jammu and Kashmir girls were all at sea unsure of how to deal with the tsunami of goals that tore them apart.
In a Group E encounter at Panchayat grounds, Raia, Jharkhand mauled Kerala 5-1 after both the teams were tied 1-1 at half time. The teams started the game on an attacking mode. However, it was Puja Kumari who broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when she slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot. However, their joy was short-lived when Anagha P neutralized the lead in the 21st minute.
After the break, Jharkhand were a dominant lot and swarmed all over the rival territory.Puja Topo regained the lead in the 36th minute.Three minutes later,Puja Kumari struck second time to register her brace.Mamata Kumari put the issue beyond doubt in the 40th minute while Anamika Kumarai sealed the rival fate in the 57th minute.
In a Group G match at Raia Panchayat ground, Madhya Pradesh blanked Himmachal Pradesh 2-0.
At Rosary grounds,Navelim, West Bengal thrashed Gujarat 9-0 in a Group H encounter and Mizoram humbled Uttar Pradesh 7-0. Meanwhile,hosts Goa will meet Telangana on October 10 at Rosary grounds, Navelim at 7.30 am.
Goalscorers for Goa
Velanie Fernandes 9 (4,15,22,25,27,33,37,48,50), Cianna Lobo 4 (6,24,52,90+1), Lifa Gama 4 (30,35,77,88),Anline Sharmila Fernandes 4 (39,61,66,80),Marlat Cardozo 4 (56,74,76,85),Sushmita H Jadhav 3 (11,20,43),Avia Jean Vaz (45+1 min), Scindia Veganand Saudatikar(70),Cynthia Diana Lobo(73)
SCOREBOX
Goa 31 beat J&K 0;Jharkhand 5 beat Kerala 1;Madhya Pradesh 2 beat Himachal Pradesh 0; West Bengal 9 beat Gujarat 0;Mizoram 7 beat Uttar Pradesh 0
