MARGAO: Kerala overcame Mizoram 3-2 to enter the semi-final of 36th Coca Cola sub-junior all-India under-15 football championship for the Mir Iqbal Husain Trophy, at Government school ground, Cuncolim, on Thursday. Kerala led 3-1 at the break.
Knowing that win will enable to qualify for the semi-final, Kerala started the game in a whirlwind fashion but it was Mizoram who took the lead in the seventh minute through Lerry.
Stung by the setback, Kerala regrouped quickly and took the fight to the rival camp and in the 18th minute, striker Mohammed Lamiz equalized.
Kerala looked a much improved side and in the in the 25th minute Mohammed Ansari made it 2-1 in favour of the winners with a pile driver. The lead spurred Kerala to mount tremendous pressure on the rival goal and their forwards swarmed into the rival territory.
In the 28th minute Arjun increase the tally when he punished the rival goalkeeper with a clinical finish.
After resumption, in the 77th minute, Jeromio reduced the deficits for Mizoram. The reducer infused some much needed sting upfront but rival defenders stood tall in frustrating rival attacks.
In another match, at Government School ground, Cuncolim, A fine hat-trick by Aniket Varrikar helped Maharashtra drub Haryana 8-1. Maharashtra led 3-0 at half time.
West Zone champions Maharashtra dominated the entire proceeding and pushed their opponents on the back-foot. Aniket Varrikar opened the scoring in the very third minute. In the 36th minute, he doubled the lead Krish Adhikari who had a good game added his name on the scorers list in the 39th minute.
The second half did not bring any relief to the sagging morale of Haryana as their opponents attacked from the flanks. Aniket Varrikar registered his hat-trick in the 58th minute. Kamran Ansari inflated the tally in the 65th minute. Arya Yogpurish increase the tally in the 70th minute
Earlier, in the 50th minute, Prabhjot scored the consolation goal.
Amar Kiranpure, who was in thick action scored a brace in the 74th and 76th minutes to decimate the rival. However, the teams crashed out of the tournament.
Host Goa will meet Kerala in the semi-final on January 24, at Holy Trinity Ground, Benaulim, 4 p.m.
Group B topper Jharkhand will meet Chandigarah in the semi final on January 24 at Government School play ground, Cuncolim, 4 p.m.
The final is slated on January 27.
