NAGPUR: Hosts Maharashtra beat Tamil Nadu by a solitary goal to book a summit clash with defending champions Services, who beat Goa in the semis, in the 70th National Championship for the Santosh Trophy at the SEC Railway Stadium in Nagpur.
After a barren first half, Tamil Nadu Central defender Prem Kumar deflected the ball into his own net as he tried to intercept a Shakti Singh cross from the right.
Maharashtra were even reduced to 10-men in injury time of the second half but eventually it didn’t matter.
Playing with a young Team whose average age is around 23, Maharashtra were the better Team for most of the proceedings, even though Tamil Nadu also had their chances in between.
In fact, it was Tamil Nadu who were faster off the blocks. In the 3rd minute, Soosai Raj played it behind the defence in an effort to find Tamil Nadu Striker Reagan. The latter followed it and tried to dummy rival Goalkeeper Owais Khan and wasted the opportunity in the process.
But Maharashtra regrouped fast and in the 9th minute, they should have taken the lead. Vijit Shetty followed up an Aaron D’Costa cross and with rival Sounesh at his mercy, his placement went wide.
Vijit again muffed up a photocopy of the same in the 36th minute – this time too he followed it up but placed it wide. On any other day, both would have gone in.
“We should have killed the game in the first half itself,” Maharashtra Coach Augusto D’Silva maintained after the match.
Maharashtra preferred to play a high line of defence disrupting Reagan’s comfort zone. Twice he failed to beat the off-side trap; the timings of his runs went awry allowing Maharashtra to slowly take over the reins.
Tamil Nadu tried to maintain their shape and preferred to play it between the defenders but some timely interceptions from the two Maharashtra Central Defenders didn’t allow them the luxury of running havoc.
Nevertheless, in the 34th minute a Sirajudeen free-kick from near the corner post curled dangerously and beat everyone in the process before going out.
Tamil Nadu also had a half chance in the 43rd minute. Raegan was quick to spot Owais off his line but his lob lacked the direction.
Changing over, Man of the Match Vijit tried his luck with a stinger from around 30 yards but Sounesh tipped it over. The resultant corner went abegging.
Maharashtra eventually took the lead in the 58th minute. Defender Prem Kumar in an effort keep off a Shakti Singh cross deflected it into his own net.
The goal seemed to add to Maharashtra’s confidence. They were more comfortable in keeping the ball, quite content to play the one-twos in between the spaces. Realising time was running out, Tamil Nadu chased and pressed but the deft touches added to their frustration. To worsen things,
Maharashtra were winning most, or rather all the second balls in the second half.
In the 75th minute, much against the run of play, Tamil Nadu muffed from close – Soosai Raj failing to connect a dipping Alaudeen cross from the right. A slight touch would have directed it into the net.
With some ten minutes remaining, Tamil Nadu went all out. In the 81st minute M Pradeep’s shot dipped dangerously and narrowly sailed over. The very next minute, Owais dived to palm away an Ameeruddin cross.
Maharashtra were reduced to 10-men in the injury time – substitute Harold Fernandes given marching orders for bringing down Reagan outside the box. But Maharashtra managed to hold on.
Augusto credited the win to his boys. “I credit the boys for the victory. But we still have another one to go,” he said referring to the Final.
The Final between Maharashtra and Services will kick-off at 3pm on Sunday (March 13).
Services beat Goa
A dominant Services beat Goa by a solitary goal to book a spot in the final. The match should have been settled long back had Services capitalized on their chances but perseverance eventually paid off in the 115th minute when in a desperate attempt to clear, Mohammed Ali kicked it into his own net. The extra-time was enforced after both the Teams were deadlocked after regulation time.
Services looked more organised with someone always present to support the other. Vivek Kumar and Francis Zoununtluangn rotated in the Midfield with local boy Hardik Kanojia providing able assistance.
Man of the Match Arjun Tudu, who was summoned by national coach Stephen Constantine for the national camp prior to the SAFF Cup, proved to be a constant thorn for the Goan Team. He impressed with his speed, relentless pressing and never say die attitude.
Goa despite boasting of four International Players in their ranks weren’t able to match their opponents. They relied more on counters to catch them unaware.
Meanwhile, a minute’s silence was observed prior to the kick-off in memory of former India International Amar Bahadur Gurung who passed away on Wednesday.
The first shot on target came in the 5th minute. Vivek cut in from the left and his diagonal shot despite beating a diving Laxmikant Kattimani bounced off the post.
Two minutes later, Jain P sidestepped Elvis Barreto but his shot hit Rowilson Fernandes on the hand. However, off the resultant free-kick from just outside the box, Kattimani fisted Anthony Chhetri’s effort.
Having absorbed the initial pressure, Goa came out of their shell. In the 13th minute, Velito D’Cruz’s long-ranger narrowly sailed over and in the very next minute, Francis Fernandes turned deft on top of the box to set him free but his left-footer went wide.
However, Goa couldn’t keep up the momentum and Services seized the initiative again. In the 38th minute, Kattimani was again in the thick of action diving to his right to deny a Vivek long ranger.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Services created another opening when a brilliant one-two between Francis and Anthony saw the latter sneak in but his shot went straight to Kattimani.
Immediately after the changeover, Vivek found him free inside the box but that slight moment of hesitation allowed Rowlison Rodrigues to recover and clear. And the very next minute Tudu’s drop-volley was collected on second attempt by Kattimani.
Services continued their domination and from thereafter it was almost one-way traffic. But it didn’t materialize into a goal as the Services forwards either fumbled or were a bit reluctant to pull the trigger.
The easiest chance of the day fell to Tudu in the 72nd minute. A cross down the left saw Kattimani miss the flight and all Tudu had to do was to tap into an empty net. He did, but it just sailed over.
Another effort went abegging in the 79th minute – this time Vivek beating the rival defence for pace but his left-footer curled away.
Much against the run of play complacency almost brought Services’ own downfall in the 86th minute. Milagres Gonsalves pressed hard even as Vibin had it in control. But a bit of indecision allowed Milagres to snatch it and set up substitute Semson in the clear. Had it not been for the outstretched legs of Goalkeeper Shibin Raj, Goa could have settled the issue. But it stretched to extra-time.
In the extra time, two chances fell to the two Teams in the first two minutes itself. First, the triangle of Francis, Milagres and Nickson Casanha split opened the Services’ defence but Nickson couldn’t finish it off – his weak push not troubling Shibin.
And off the counter-attack, Vivek failed to head it into an empty net.
With a sizeable crowd watching from the stands, Services looked the fitter of the two Teams as it progressed. Perhaps everyone was expecting the tie-breaker but Ali’s own goal made the difference.
By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team
