'Keeper Jaanya Doshi shines for NSS Hill Spring

Jaanya Doshi

Thanks to custodian Jaanya Doshi's heroics under the bar, NSS Hill Spring International (Tardeo) beat Bombay International (Babulnath) 3-2 via a thrilling tie-breaker to win the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) girls' U-14 Division II inter-school football title at Azad Maidan on Saturday.


Jaanya Doshi. Pic/Bipin Kokate

This is the first ever MSSA title across all age groups for the Tardeo school. After the match ended 0-0 at the end of regulation time, Jaanya made a series of crucial saves in the shootout to give her school a much cherished win. She dived to her left to thwart Bombay International's Sama Dalal, easily warded off Nitya Joshi's shot in the centre and then saw Diya Karwa's attempt come off the cross bar.

Jaanya also converted from the penalty spot alongwith Tiana Pandole, Esha Mundra and Malvika Melna. With the score 2-2 after five penalty kicks, the game went into sudden death, where Mahita Shah scored for NSS, while Jaanya dived to her left to deny Bombay International's Anusha Jasubhai from the spot.

NSS Hill Spring coach Bloecher Mendes felt his girls should have won the game in regulation time itself. "We could have won the match in regulation time, but missed a host of scoring opportunities. We had practiced for a tie-breaker scenario, so we were ready for it," said Mendes.

Meanwhile, Jamnabai Narsee (Juhu) beat Dhirubhai Ambani International (BKC) 3-1 via tie-breaker to seal the third place. Reya Gandhi, Kiara Shah, Shanaia Malkani scored for the Juhu outfit, while only Ira Gupta was on target for the BKC school.