Shoaib Baig showed excellent touch and fine artistry as he once again led from the front to steer St. Francis Xavier’s, Kanjurmarg into the finals. The articulate and opportunistic forward notched up another hat-trick, which powered St. Francis Xavier’s to a fighting 3-2 win against Infant Jesus, Vasai in a Men’s Open semi-final match of the 45th Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana Rink Football Tournament 2025, played under floodlights at the WCG tennis courts on Saturday evening.
The Vasai outfit put up a dogged display but managed to score only two goals courtesy the efforts of Rakshit Pillai and Nayan Kajve and bowed out of the tournament.
Earlier in the first semi-finals, St. Blaise ‘A’, Amboli produced a determined performance to overcome Good Shepherd, Andheri by a narrow 5-4 scoreline to secure their place in the finals.
For the victorious Amboli team, striker Jayesh Sutar scored two goals while Kaldyn Misquitta, Merick Fernandes and Egan Fernandes contributed one goal each. For Good Shepherd the goals were scored by Clinton D’Souza 2 goals and one apiece from Kamran Siddique and Asif Khan.
Results – Men’s Veteran’s 40+ (semi-finals): Ronnie’s 7s 2 (Glen Moraes, Edilbert Martis) beat MYJ Blue 1 (Steve Gomes).
Maccabi FC 5 (Shannon Oliver 4, Adrian Pereira) beat MYJ White 0.
Men’s Open (semi-finals): St. Blaise ‘A’, Amboli 5 (Jayesh Sutar 2, Kaldyn Misquitta, Merick Fernandes, Egan Fernandes) beat Good Shepherd, Andheri 4 (Clinton D’Souza 2, Kamran Siddique, Asif Khan).
St. Francis Xavier’s, Kanjurmarg 3 (Shoaib Baig 3) beat infant Jesus, Vasai 2 (Rakshit Pillai, Nayan Kajve).