Goalkeepers steal the limelight, Ahmednagar bests hosts in humdinger

by Vineet Varma January 23, 2019

In what was a long and eventful day 35 goals were scored on Day 3 of the 2019 Wifa Inter-District Championship Sub-Junior Boys.

Eight games were played at the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Zilla Krida Sankul Ground on Tuesday.

Ahmednagar beat hosts Jalgaon in the game of the day. They won partly due to tight man-marking of danger-man Faizal Khan. The first goal by Atharva Sanap was a peach while Ganesh Jadhav scored off a counterattack in the second.

Ahmednagar – 2 (Atharva Sanap (20’), Ganesh Jadhav (40’)) beat Jalgaon – 0

Palghar beat Solapur in the first game thanks to Aditya Vichare and Alan Sequeira’s first-half goals. Solapur scored through Pratik Adsule in the 41^st minute.

Palghar – 2 (Aditya Vichare (12’), Alan Sequeira (18’)) beat Solapur – (Pratik Adsule (41’))

Mumbai hit eleven goals past Washim in the second game. It was virtually a no-contest. Aryan Mahadeshwar and Yohana Martin scored a hat-trick each. Credit to Washim who soldiered on despite being outmuscled and outclassed.

Mumbai – 11 (Mohd. Kay Ansari (2’, 17’), Hridya Haria (10’), Craig Daniel Salve (11’, 40’), Yohana Martin (13’, 42’, 48’), Aryan Mahadeshwar (15’, 18’, 47’)) beat Washim – 0

Kolhapur resumed their goal-glut as they hit eight past Nanded in the third game. Gandharva Chavan scored a hat-trick and Prashant Salawade and Sanket Medhe scored a brace. Parth Sutar was the other goal scorer for Kolhapur.

Kolhapur – 8 (Prashant Salawade (4’, 37’), Sanket Medhe (7’, 8’), Gandharva Chavan (31’, 42’, 44’), Parth Sutar (32’) beat Nanded – 0

Amravati needed a moment of magic to beat Gondia in the fourth game. Gondia’s Jamir Shaik hit a spectacular bicycle kick! Atharva Chauhan missed a penalty for Amravati in the first-half. Shaik Sufian scored the winner in the 45^th minute.

Amravati – 1 (Shaik Sufian (45’)) beat Gondia – 0

The fifth game involving Pune and Nashik was a close affair. Tushar Durga scored the winner for Pune in the 27^th minute. Nashik goalkeeper Ashwin Pobbar stole the limelight with his incredible double save in the first-half.

Pune – 1 (Tushar Durga (27’) beat Nashik – 0

Thane beat Sangli in the seventh game. Sangli goalkeeper Sujal Pardesi saved a penalty in the first-half and kept Thane at bay with quick reflexes and smart positioning. Thane scored off a penalty in the 28^th minute and also grabbed a late winner.

Thane – 2 (Shaunak Mahajan (28’), Amster Saldanha (49’) beat Sangli – 1 (Om Khade (41’))

Nagpur staged a superb comeback against Buldana in the final game. Utkarsh Mankar’s four goals gave the Boys in Orange a resounding 5-1 win. Buldana had opened the scoring but Mankar’s heroics put the game to bed.

Nagpur – 5 (Utkarsh Mankar (27’, 36’, 40’, 47’) beat Buldana (Danish (3’) – 1

As we are done with the pre-quarterfinals we do hope that the quarterfinals (Day 4) will be on similar lines. The crème-de-la-crème of talent will ply their wares for glory.

The 2019 Wifa Inter-District Championship Sub-Junior Boys is hosted by the Western India Football Federation (WIFA) and Jalgaon District Football Association (JDFA). Pinch Jeera Masala, Stamina Apple Fizzy Fruit Drink, Mahaveer Classes, Jain Irrigation Systems Pvt. Ltd, WIFA, Jain Sports Academy, Meera Cola and Pride are the major sponsors.

Also Read: Low key affair on Day 4 as Thane grab the spotlight

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