Indira National School, Wakad and debutants Ramabai Vidyalaya (Marathi), Chikalwadi worked themselves into the knock-out round in the Bajaj Allianz-Aspire India School 5s Under-12 Invitational Football Tournament, at the Freekick Turfs, Baner on Tuesday.

On a day that had 46 goals scored in 8 matches, Indira National School pipped Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to second place and topped Group B1.

Both teams finished with 4 points each, but Indira National School qualified for the last-16 owing to lesser goals conceded. The highlight of this group was Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s 7-1 win over New Millennium School.

The group also had Samarth Joshi (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan) net 5 times and Vihaan Bagei (Indira) net 4 in the two matches their teams played during the day.

The afternoon session had Ramabai Vidyalaya (Marathi) make their debut memorable by qualifying with an all-win record from Group B4.

Ramabai Vidyalaya won both their matches handsomely. They first posted a 9-1 win against BTIS, Balewadi in a ‘battle of debutants’ which also turned out to be the highest win of the day. They later returned to downed Aspire India Juniors 5-0 and finish with 6 points in their kitty.

The Ramabai Vidyalaya outfit along with Aspire India Juniors, a Sanghvi-based Academy, are among the four underprivileged teams who have been given entry in School 5s with an aim to promote the game to every player who plays the sport.

Interestingly, Kuldeep Bhendra (Ramabai Vidyalaya) shared the top-scorer of the day honour along with Samarth Joshi. Both players netted five 5 goals each from their 2 matches.

Action on Wednesday shifts to Freekick Turfs, Mundhwa.

RESULTS

Group B1: Indira National School, Wakad: 2 (Laksh Rangnekar, Vihaan Bagei) drew with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan: 2 (Samarth Joshi 2)

Group B1: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan: 7 (Samarth Joshi 3, Pranav Bhujbal 2; 2 Self Goals) b New Millennium School, Dapodi: 1 (Riddesh Patil)

Group B1: Indira National School, Wakad: 6 (Vihaan Bagei 3, Laksh Rangnekar, Shikhar Maurya, Chaitanya Sonawane) bt New Millenium School, Dapodi: 0

Group B2: Vibgyor, Balewadi: 1 (Aayush Khatanhar) b Millenium National: 0

Group B3: Blue Ridge Public School: 3 (Deepak Shanbag, Avishkar Sonawane 2) b Indira National School, Baner: 1 (Rishant Sharma)

Group B4: Ramabai Vidyalaya (Marathi): 5 (Kuldeep Bhendra 2, Yash Yedellu 2, Sartak Kadam) b Aspire India Football: 0

Group B4: Aspire India Football: 6 (Yash Lonare 4, Abhay Sonawane, Suyash Sarode) b BTIS: 2 (Vishal Chaudhary, Ruturaj Sakhare)

Group B4: Ramabai Vidyalaya (Marathi): 9 (Kuldeep Bhendra 3, Vivek Babar 3, Yash Yedellu 2, Sartak Kadam 1) b BTIS: 1 (Swaraj Sakhare)

(Aspire India Football Press Release)