Santosh Trophy: Late drama sees Goa hold Gujarat

Gujarat scored the opening goal directly from a free-kick!

Goa showcased their resilience as Jobern Cardozo's stoppage-time heroics secured a dramatic 1-1 draw against Gujarat in a thrilling encounter at the 77th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy, at the SAG Benaulim Ground.

The game kicked off with Goa displaying their attacking prowess early on. Jobern Cardozo attempted a long-range shot, narrowly missing the target, while Clive Miranda's stretched effort from a corner kick fell agonizingly short. Goa continued to press, with Selwyn Miranda's header sailing upwards after a well-executed cross on the 18th minute mark. Moments later, a precise cross from Jobern found Clive, but the connection to Lloyd Cardozo couldn't materialize.

Gujarat, resilient in defense, posed a threat through set pieces. In the 36th minute, Chunsaba's freekick forced a spectacular save from Goa's keeper Dylan, showcasing his acrobatic skills. The deadlock was broken in the 58th minute when Chunsaba Bariam's set-piece delivery bounced awkwardly, eluding Dylan and finding the back of the net, giving Gujarat the lead.

As the game neared its end, Goa intensified their attacks. Jobern Cardozo had a golden opportunity in a one-on-one situation, but Gujarat's keeper pulled off a remarkable save. Moments later, he denied Necio's goal-bound shot with a diving block, ensuring Gujarat's lead remained intact.

However, Goa's persistence paid off in the dying moments of the match. Joseph Clemente's precise long ball from their own half found Jobern Cardozo, who calmly slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper, sparking wild celebrations among the Goa supporters.

In the morning fixture, Kerala continued their impressive form, notching a commanding 6-1 victory over Jammu & Kashmir. Jithin Gopalkrishnan opened the scoring with a curling shot in the 8th minute, setting the tone for Kerala's dominance. Akbar Sidhique and Sajeesh E combined for the second goal, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from J&K.

Despite Faisal Thakur pulling a goal back for J&K, Kerala remained relentless. Muhammed Ashiq and Riswanali Edakkavil added to the tally, securing Kerala's convincing win.