MUMBAI, SEPT 10: Sunil Sharma's brace for Atomic Energy, Chembur, helped them to win the under-16 Division IV title beating Sacred Hearts, Santacruz 2-1 in the final of the Inter-Schools football championship, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, at the Mumbai Schools Sports Association Ground, Azad Maidan today.Atomic Energy shot into the lead in the fifth minute of the match when Sharma thumped a dead ball from close range. On a murky ground, the ball wasn't moving so the players were adjusting to the conditions.
In the middle of first-half, Jonathan Miranda brought back the equaliser to keep the match open. His long ranger dipped into the goal even as the Atomic 'keeper Purna expected the ball to fly over.
The second-half witnessed more attacking game than the first-half. Both teams made their first endeavour for title.
But Sharma's brilliance saw the Chembur school win the trophy. On a cross off, Jitendra Palekar, Santacruz goalkeeper, fumbled and ball went through his legs. Sharma dived from closerange and bulged the net with a sliding tap.
For Sacred Heart, right-winger Nigel D'Souza had good runs and some of his crosses on the goal-mouth threatened the Atomic Energy goal. But his team was unlucky as none of his attempts were converted into goals.
For Atomic Energy, the defence comprising Laxman Suryavanshi, Sandeep B and Anand V did not allow Hearts strikers much space to build attacks.
Sacred Heart showed fine spirit even when 1-2 down. In the dying minutes, another goal-threatening attempt was initiated by Sebastian Fernandes. But a good save by Atomic Energy 'keeper Purna saved the day for Chembur School.
RESULTS:
At D'Assisi, Borivli: Francis D'Assisi 4 (Dipesh Shetty 2, Saumil Aditya, Canver Rodrigues) bt Our Lady of Remedy 0; St Anne's 2 (Carlton Pius, Gary Rodrigues) bt Our Lady of Remedy 0; St Francis D'Assisi B 2 (Roshan Shetty, Sahil Mehara) bt Don Bosco 0
At St Stanislaus School, Bandra: Holy Family A (Arzan Patel) drew with St Stanislaus B 1 (Utkrish Kaushik);St Andrew's A (Alex Thomas) bt Learners Acad 0
At Azad Maidan: Hindi Vidya Bhavan, Marine Lines 1 (Dilip Choudhry) bt Scholar School 0; Seventh Day Adventist 2 (Irfan Shaikh, Mudassir Shaikh) bt St Anthony, Vakola 0; Atomic Energy Central School 2 (Sunil Sharma 2) bt Sacred Heart, Santacruz 1 (Jonathan Miranda)
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.