MCL Cup: St Xavier’s, Unit-2 HS enter quarterfinals

Bhubaneswar: St Xavier’s High School, Kedargouri, and Govt Boys’ High School, Unit-2, booked quarterfinal berths with contrasting results in respective second and last league matches of the MCL Cup 29th Bhubaneswar Inter-School Football Tournament at Unit-VI Boys’ High School Ground here on Monday.
St Xavier’s and last year’s runners-up Vikash Residential School tied for the top spot in Group B with four points each after the hard-fought match between the two sides ended in 1-1 draw. Biswajit Mallick gave Vikash School the lead in the 25th minute, while Aaron Jena equalized for St Xavier’s in the 37th minute.
However, St Xavier’s entered the last-eight stage by virtue of having better goal-difference – 3-1 against 2-1 by Vikash School. In respective previous league match, St Xavier’s and Vikash Residential had beaten DAV School, Pokhariput, 2-0 and 1-0 respectively. Vikash boys, however, found some consolation as their hardworking player Krishna Sawaian received the player of the match prize from India women football team’s former captain Sradhanjali Samantaray.
In the second second match of the day, Unit-2 High School thrashed Stewart School 3-0 in Group C with Surya Munda, Jhupam Pradhan and Debadutta Soren scoring in the 33rd, 40th and 46th minutes respectively. Unit-2 boys also secured the quarterfinal place on better goal difference, edging out Times Gurukul School 3-0 against 3-1. Jhupam Pradhan was declared the player of the match and he received the prize from international volleyball referee Sudarshan Patnaik.

Today’s matches were officiated by match commissioner Maheswar Singh along with referees Saroj Moharana, Asirbad Kanungo, Rajendra Barik, Chandrakant Barik and Bulbul Bhoi. The tournament is being organised by Unit-VI Athletic Association.