Team Herald
MAPUSA: Services had to sweat out to maintain their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Lakshadweep in the Group A match of Hero Santosh Trophy- West Zone Qualifiers, at Duler stadium, here, on Saturday.
Both the teams were levelled 1-1 at half time with both the goals coming from the penalty spot.
Services coach Parshuram Salwadi rested eight of his first choice players as his team had a crucial decider against Maharashtra on Monday, and gave an opportunity to the reserves to display their talent.
At the other end, Lakshadweep coach Assis Veettil brought two changes after his team had lost his earlier two matches.
Services who had major possession in the initial proceedings could not make it count as their attack fizzled out once inside the opponent’s danger box.
Lallawmkima put Services in front from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute after he was brought down by Lakshadweep skipper Anwar NP inside the danger box to give his side the lead.
Lakshadweep did not lay down and fought back to find the equaliser in the 44nd minute through Savad T.I who coolly tucked the penalty kick past the keeper after Abdul Nazar was hackled to the ground by Zothanpuia, referee Dipak Singha who was well positioned pointed to the dreaded spot to equalise.
Changing ends, Services were unlucky not to be ahead when Sushil`s long ranger rebounded off the post with keeper Mohammad stranded to his spot.
It did not take long for Services to put their noses ahead when Sabir Khan’s power-packed right footer had no answer from the keeper to make it 2-1.
Services had a chance in the 65th minute to seal the match but Sushil Shah’s free-kick was brilliantly stopped by the Lakshadweep keeper.
There was still hope for Lakshadweep to get back into the match when Services were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when their keeper Muhammed Shanoos was given the red card after he brought down substitute Faizal Hussain outside the penalty box. The resultant direct free-kick was off target.
As all three substitutions were made, Services coach played Sushil Shah as their keeper who held on to the goal lead until the final whistle.
In the morning match, Maharashtra registered a well deserved 3-1 win over Gujarat where they will take on Maharashtra on Monday for the crucial tie.
It was Gujarat outfit that stunned their opponents by a 10th minute goal with Pavan Ramanuji scoring.
Maharashtra colts stunned by the reverse exerted tremendous pressure on the rival citadel and levelled terms with Shanon Pereira scoring from the penalty spot in the 37th minute.
On crossing over, the match was equally contested where only in the last quarter of the match Maharashtra pumped in two more goals through substitute Kamran Ansari to make it 3-1.
