Services hold Maharashtra, qualify for Santosh Trophy 2019-20 final round
The defending champions made it to the finals on goal difference.
Services qualified for the final phase of the Santosh Trophy 2019-20, as they drew 1-1 with Maharashtra in the final match of West Zone Qualifiers Group A played at Duler Stadium here on Monday.
At half-time, Maharashtra were leading by a solitary goal. Both teams finished with 10 points each, but Services qualified with +9 goal-difference, while Maharashtra had a GD of +6.
The defending champions had five changes to their side which registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over Lakshadweep. Keeper Vishnu VK, N Herojit Singh, Novin Gurung, Harikrishna AU and Muhammed Inayath were included in the starting XI. Whereas, Nichiket Palav, Kamran Ansari, Dhurwesh Nijap, Pragnesh Solanki, Allan Dias and custodian Aashish Awati made the cut for Maharashtra, who had come from a goal down to secure a 3-1 win over Gujarat in the last match.
In a must-win situation, Maharashtra started the match on an attacking note and won a free-kick just outside the box in the 10th minute. Dion Menezes’ low effort deflected off Services defender Anoop Pauly and went into his own goal to put the rivals into the lead.
Services produced their first attempt in the 19th minute, as Lallawmkima cut past an opponent and went for glory from the top of the box only to see it fly over the crossbar. A few minutes later, they once again came close to scoring.
This time, Muhammed danced past few opponents in the box and tried to find his teammate in the with a cut-back, but Maharashtra defender Dion cleared the danger in time.
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On changing ends, Maharashtra had the best chance to double their lead in the 48th minute, as their skipper Allan Dias made a perfect through-pass to Pragnesh in the box, but the forward shot wide from close range.
At the other end, Services also came close to equalizing. Maharashtra’s backline failed to clear Sushil Shah’s long free-kick and Muhammed smartly chested the ball down, but his strike from inside the box was blocked by a defender.
Maharashtra once again made a dangerous attack on their rivals, as Pragnesh made a darting run from the halfway line and fired a powerful strike from inside the box, but his shot missed the target narrowly.
Services also had a chance to level back in the 67th when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, but Sushil’s goalbound shot was brilliantly fisted over the crossbar by Maharashtra keeper Ashish for a corner.
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Services finally managed to level in the 69th minute, as Herojit’s strike from inside the box hit Maharashtra defender Nachiket’s hands and referee Rafeek Babu promptly awarded a penalty. Services’ Lallawmkima calmly finished the ball in the net from the spot to make it 1-1.
The play turned rough in the last quarter of the match, as Services team manager Alakh Kumar Surya was sent off in the 85th minute for manhandling an opposition player. Whereas, a few minutes before this, Maharashtra head coach Yousuf Ansari was also shown a yellow card for dissent.
In the dying minutes, Maharashtra tried to build pressure on the rivals with continuous attacks, but the opposition's backline cleared every danger to help their side qualify.
In the other match, Lakshadweep concluded their campaign with a fluent 3-1 win over Daman & Diu. Faizal Hussain, Abdull Nazar and Savad TI scored for the winners, while Raj Bhoir was the lone scorer for Daman & Diu.
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