MARGAO: Hot contenders Jharkhand defeated Kerala 2-1 to cruise into the semi-finals of Group B league tie in the 36th Coca Cola Sub-Junior National Football Championship for Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy, at Holy Trinity ground, Benaulim, on Tuesday.
Both the teams were tried 1-1 at half time.
The teams showed urgency, however Jharkhand asserted the midfield supremacy and attacked the rival citadel with barrage of attacks. Persistent forays paid off the dividends and in the very 7th minute Chotu Tirkey slotted past the rival goalkeeper with snap shot.
Stung by the early setback, Kerala intensified their attacks and troubled the rival defence with sporadic raids. Kerala neutralized the lead in the injury time when Mohammed Ansari punted the ball to the far corner of the net. Earlier, Jharkhand had couple of scoring opportunities but their forwards misfired from hand shaking distance.
Post resumption, Jharkhand were a dominant lot with their forwards and midfielders working in tandem to put the rival defence under tremendous pressures. The battle turned livelier as both the teams went all out in search of the match winner.
Gaurav Mulchi struck the match winner in the 70th minute giving no chance to the rival goalkeeper.
Down by 1-2, Kerala blazed all guns but rival defenders stood tall in protecting the slender lead.
In another match at Government school playground, Cuncolim, Mizoram overcome West Zone winner Mahrashtra 3-2. Both the teams were tied 1-1 at the breather. The highlight of the day was a brilliant hat-trick by striker Lalrinawa.
Both the teams dished out good brand of soccer. However, it was Maharashtra, who broke the deadlock in the very 5th minute when striker Kamran Ansari punished the rival goalkeeper with a clinical finish.
Unfazed, Mizoram slowly took over the reins with their forwards calling the shots against the rival citadel. Lalrinawa cancelled the lead with stiff shot.
The equalizer boosted the morale of Mizoram players as they unleashed a barrage of attacks but Maharashtra defenders stood tall in protecting their citadel intact.
After the break, Mizoram showed better application and tormented the rival defence with sharp raids. Lalrinawa made it 2-1 in the 58th minute when he beat the rival goalkeeper with stiff grounder. Lalrinawa registered his hat-trick in the 70th minute. Pranay K reduced the deficit.
