Chennai’s PS Secondary girls book finals berth in RFYS Nationals

The Chennai girls edged out Kadathanad Rajas Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode 6-4 via tie-breaker after both teams were locked 1-1 at full time at the Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli.

PS Secondary qualified for the semis after Imphal’s Chanambam Thambou Higher Secondary School was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. The Chennai team that finished third in Group A, topped by Chanambam, moved up the order and ended up meeting Kadathanad in the rescheduled semifinal.

It did not let the golden opportunity slip by with a gritty display against the team from Kerala. Kadathanad's star striker Aswathi Varma put them ahead with a 15th minute goal but their joy did not last long as five minutes later PS Secondary netted the equaliser through midfielder M Chadomaye for a halftime scoreline of 1-1.

With both teams battling hard and rarely giving anything away, the contest spilled into the tie-breaker. PS Secondary girls held their nerve in the shootout converting all five penalties through Sneha Ramesh, Dhrthi Bhat, Apeksha K, Nikithaa P and Chadomaye. Kadathanad also fared well with their first four shots as Anju ATK, Aswathi Varma, Vismayaraj P and Drishya Krishna scored but goalkeeper and captain Nisari K missed leading to their defeat.

Chadomaya was adjudged player of the match for her excellent display.

PS Secondary will meet Shillong's Umthli Secondary School in the final on Saturday. Umthli had upstaged My Own School, Ahmedabad 2-0 in the first semifinal earlier on Friday.

Results: PS Senior Secondary School, Chennai 6 (M Chadomaye 20, Sneha Ramesh, Dhrthi Bhat, Apeksha K, Nikithaa P, Chadomaye) beat Kadathanad Rajas Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode 5 (Aswathi Varma, Anju Atk, Aswathi, Vismayaraj P, Drishya Krishna)