Santosh Trophy: Goa beat Chhattisgarh in thrilling encounter

Trijoy Dias scored the winner

Goa emerged triumphant against a resilient Chhattisgarh side in a Santosh Trophy Group A match at the vibrant SAG ground, Benaulim recording a nail-biting 1-0 victory, thanks to a dramatic late goal by the hometown hero, Trijoy Dias.

The Goan faithful were treated to an exhilarating display of attacking football right from the first whistle. Goa set the tone with a barrage of attempts on the Chhattisgarh goal. The initial thrill came from the boot of Llyod Cardozo, whose shot narrowly missed the side post, signaling Goa's intent.

However, Chhattisgarh’s Lokesh Nishad tried to turn the tables with a goal-bound shot, brilliantly denied by the acrobatics of keeper Dylan, ensuring Goa's goal remained untouched.

Goa was handed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when they were awarded a penalty after a Chhattisgarh defender fouled a Goan player inside the box. However, lady luck seemed to elude them as Clive Miranda’s spot-kick sailed wide, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.

The first half saw Goa's attackers, including Jobern Cardozo, Selwyn Miranda, and Trijoy Dias, creating waves of chances, but the Chhattisgarh defense and their goalkeeper stood resilient. Just before halftime, Jobern's attempt was thwarted by an outstanding save from the Chhattisgarh custodian, leaving the teams deadlocked at the break.

As the second half kicked off, Chhattisgarh rallied, forcing an early save from Goa's custodian, Dylan. The Goan faithful held their breath as Chhattisgarh intensified their efforts, but Dylan, in sublime form, showcased his shot-stopping prowess, denying the opponents a chance to seize the lead.

With time slipping away, Goa pressed forward with unmatched zeal. The atmosphere was electric, the tension palpable, as every Goan player fought valiantly for that elusive goal. Saiesh Bagkar joined the fray, attempting to break the deadlock from a distance, but the Chattisgarh defense held firm.

The breakthrough finally came in the dying embers of the match, sending the Goan crowd into raptures. It was Vinay Harji's inch-perfect delivery into the box that found Trijoy Dias, who scored the ball home, unleashing wild celebrations among the Goan faithful. Trijoy's goal not only secured the victory but also etched his name in Goan football folklore.

In the midst of the jubilation, Dylan, the hero between the posts, earlier made a breathtaking save, denying Chattisgarh a goal.

In a pulsating Santosh Trophy encounter in the morning fixture, Gujarat emerged victorious in their opening match against a spirited Jammu & Kashmir side, winning 2-1 in an action-packed duel at the SAG ground. The game kicked off with an end-to-end battle, as both teams showcased their attacking prowess. Gujarat's Swikar Chaudhary and J&K's Abdul Dar came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock, setting the tone for an intense contest.

As the first half progressed, Gujarat seized the initiative. A well-intentioned cross from Bariam turned into an unexpected goal, catching the J&K defense off guard. Gujarat entered halftime with a narrow 1-0 lead, leaving the fans eager for more drama in the second half.

The game took a dramatic turn when J&K had a golden opportunity to level the scores early in the second half. However, Gujarat's goalkeeper, Shubham Chuahan, exhibited his brilliance with a crucial save, denying Adnan Ayub's powerful shot. J&K's hopes suffered a blow when Shahmeer Tariq was shown a red card for a reckless tackle on a Gujarat player, reducing his team to ten men.

Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, Gujarat doubled their lead in style. S Doungle unleashed a thunderous shot that left the J&K keeper with no chance, sending the Gujarat fans into raptures. Despite the setback, J&K displayed remarkable resilience and earned a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty. Adnan Ayub made no mistake, converting the spot-kick and reducing the deficit.