MSSA U-16: Vedant Salunke shines on birthday

Birthday boy Vedant Salunke gifted Balmohan English (Dadar) a 2-0 victory over St Mary's High School ICSE 'B' (Mazagaon) in their Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-16 Division III inter-school football match at Azad Maidan yesterday

Birthday boy Vedant Salunke gifted Balmohan English (Dadar) a 2-0 victory over St Mary's High School ICSE 'B' (Mazagaon) in their Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-16 Division III inter-school football match at Azad Maidan yesterday.


Vedant Salunkhe (centre) scores past St Mary ICSE goalkeeper Cade Mascarenhas at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble 

Salunke's brace helped his side make the cut for the play-offs for Division II. Salunke, who turned 15 yesterday, gave his side the lead in the second minute of the match with a piece of outstanding skill. After receiving a pass on the left flank from teammate Vedant Divekar, Salunkhe dribbled past a defender on the right flank before slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner of the goal.

In the second half, Salunke completed his brace by dribbling past two defenders and shooting the ball into the right corner of the goal to double the Dadar outfit's lead in the 47th minute. An elated Salunke said, "I am very happy that I got a chance to score the most important goals on my birthday, I've turned 15 today and this is going to be my most memorable birthday of my life."

Arun Deb, coach of Balmohan English, said: "I am very happy with the team's performance, the boys played well and I'm glad that we achieved three points. We are through to the play-offs having won all our three matches. It is a gift for us to have a talent like Vedant (Salunke) who has taken us through to the play-offs on a special day in his life."

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