CHANDIGARH, Aug 12 :Hosts St Xavier’s, Sector 44 along with DAV School, Sector 15,D AV Public School, Sector 8 and Shishu Niketan, Sector 22 qualified for the under-19 semi-finals of the St Xavier’s Six-A-Side Soccer Tournament being played at the St Xavier’s School here today.
St Xavier’s-44 snuffed out the challenge of spirited Doon International School, Mohali by 2-0 in the Under-19 quarter-final match. St Xavier’s goalkeeper Ravinder Singh displayed uncanny anticipation as he made a couple of brilliant saves. A full-blooded long ranger by Angad midway through the first half was punched out by an acrobatic Ravinder. Few minutes later, an alert Ravinder made another brilliant save as he collected the powerful shot of Simrat.
St Xavier’s slowed down the tempo of the game to have control over the match against aggressive Doon International. The strategy paid good dividends for Xavier’s. Tejbir Singh scored both goals for Xavier’s. His first goal came in 5th minute and second in 10th minute.
St Xavier’s will now meet DAV Pubic School, Sector 8 in the semi-final. DAV Public-8 scored a fluent 4-0 triumph over Saupin’s School, Sector 32 by 4-0, with Utkarsh striking in the 19th and 25th minutes. Kanwar Bajwa and Akshat Joshi contributed one goal each in the third and eighth minutes, respectively.
The second semi-final will be played between DAV-16 and Shishu Niketan-22. DAV, Sector 15 prevailed over Vivek High School, Sector 38 by 4-3 via tie-breaker after teams had shared four goals. For DAV-15, Salam Sunder (3rd) and Roko Singh (14th) scored in the regulation period. Saransh Chopra (18th) and Akshat Patni (22nd) scored for Vivek High School. During tie-breaker, Ravi and NC Theonesana converted their spot kicks. For Vivek, only Saransh converted his penalty.
Shishu Niketan routed St Xavier’s Mohali by 4-0. Nitin Negi (5th, 16th), Kabir (19th) and Nitin Kunwar (24th) were the goal-getters for Shishu Niketan.
Semi-finalists in the Under-14 category have also been spotted. The semi-final line-up is: St Kabir-26 vs St Solider’s International Mohali and Strawberry Fields-26 vs St Xavier’s-44.
A three-in-a-row feat by Justin helped St Soldier’s School rout Vivek High School, Sector 38 by 3-0 in the quarter-final match. Justin started chasing his hat-trick by scoring in the fifth minute. He went on to score in the 8th and 18th minutes to achieve his feat. St Xavier’s-44 defeated St Joseph’s-44 by 3-0. Himnashu (3rd) and Gagan (15th, 20th).
St Kabir outplayed St Xavier’s of Mohali by 4-0. Yuvraj (5th, 10th), Uday (18th) and Sushil (22nd) were the winners’ marksmen.
Results (q-finals): Boys Under-12: St Xavier’s-44 (Himanshu 3rd, Gagan 15th, 20th) bt St Joseph’s-44 2-0. Straberry Field-26 (Naman) bt Golden Bells, Mohali 1-0 on penalties. St Kabir-26 (Yuvraj 5th, 10th, Uday 18th, Sahil 22nd) bt St Xavier’s Panchkula 4-0. St Soldier’s International, Mohali (Justin 5th, 8th, 18th) bt Vivek High School-38 3-0.
Boys Under-19 (q-finals): DAV-15 (Salam Sunder 3rdm Roko Singh 14th, Ravi and NC Theonesana penalties) bt Vivek High School (Saransh Choplra 8th, Akshit Patni 22nd, Saransh penalty) by 4-3 on penalties. DAVP-8 (Kanwar Bajwa 3rd, Akshat Joshi 8th, Utkarsh 19th, 25th) bt Saupin’s School-32 4-0. St Xavier’s-44 (Tejbir Singh 5th, 10th) bt Doon International,Mohali 2-0. Shishu Niketan-22 (Nitin Negi 5th, 16th, Kabir 19th, Nitin Kumar 24th) bt St Xavier’s Mohali 4-0.