Catholic Gymkhana Rink Football
Bandra Packers rode on the twin strikes from Namrata Thakur to put it across Future Stars Blue in an exciting and keenly contested Women’s Open quarter-final match of the Catholic Gymkhana Rink Football Tournament 2019, played under floodlights at the Catholic Gymkhana’s artificial turf, Marine Drive on Tuesday evening. The tournament is being conducted under the auspices of the MDFA.
Namrat Thakur
The Maharashtra striker Namrata from a snap effort scored the first goal to give Packers the lead. But, the Future Stars outfit took the setback in their stride and started to put pressure on the rival goal. Their hard work paid off when Trevina Fernandes scored with a long angular shot from the right side to level the scores. After switching ends, Packers continued to enjoy more of ball possession and managed to regain the lead. Dipika Masurkar made a good run down the right and sent in a measured cross for Namrata who in a flash shot home to ensure Packers go ahead 2-1 and they managed to hold on to the advantage till the end of the match and secure a place in the penultimate round.
Meanwhile, in hard-fought and tense Veteran men’s quarter-final match, Golden Gunners FC showed tremendous fighting spirit as they recovered from an early setback and scored two goals, one in each half to overcome St Joseph’s, Juhu 2-1 and advance to the semi-finals.
Anslem Creado rocked the opponents citadel with a strike in the very first minute to give St. Joseph’s the lead, but Gunners came back nicely and found the equalizer through Agnelo Lobo midway through the first half. Later, Maxie Gunners D’Souza with a firm rasping drive from the right fired Gunners in front and they managed to hang on to that advantage till the final whistle.
In a Men’s Open second round match, Roger Sam struck the decisive winner which helped Bombastic FC get the better Uzzo Boys by a narrow 1-0 margin.
In other action, Macabi Dadar and Macabi Amboli also came through their respective second matches to progress to the last 16. Macadi Dadar overcame Glorian United 5-4 and Macabi Amboli defeated Colaba Lions 4-3.
Results – Women’s Open (quarter-finals): Banda Packers 2 (Namrata Thakur 2) beat Future Stars Blue 1 (Trevina Fernandes).
Men’s Open (second round): Macabi Amboli 4 (Merich Fernandes 2, Gaurav Jadhav, Shaun Mebezes) beat Colaba Lions 3 (Divanshu Patil. Raahil Shaikh, Lavesh Patil).
Macabi Dadar (Adrian Fernandes 2, Wendyl Dias, Shannon Rodrigues, Royston Fernandes) beat Glorian United 4 (Junaid Thange 2, Ashley Doun 2).
Bombastic FC 1 (Roger Sam) beat Uzzo Boys 0.
Veteran Men’s (quarter-finals): Golden Gunners 2 (Agnelo Lobo, Maxie D’Souza) beat St. Joseph’s, Juhu 1 (Anslem Creado).