Team Herald
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HYDERABAD: Odisha stunned former champions Goa 2-0 in the final round of Group B match in the 78th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Deccan Arena, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.
Goals from Rahul Mukhi (60th minute) and Kartik Hantal (64th) in the second half helped Odisha bounce back from their previous defeat against Delhi.
After a goal-less first half, Odisha pulled up their socks after the restart against Goa. Forward Mukhi, who was played through behind the Goa defence, entered the box and launched a low shot into the bottom corner to put Odisha in the lead at the hour mark.
Goa, the five-time Santosh Trophy champions, were shell-shocked, and Odisha capitalised on that to make it 2-0 just four minutes later.
Put in charge of a close range free-kick, Hantal accurately placed the ball in the top corner, giving his side a two-goal cushion.
With the win, Odisha moved up from the bottom to the third spot. Goa, with two 0-2 defeats from two matches, remain the only team in Group B to have not scored a single point thus far.
RESULT
Goa 0 Odisha 2 (Rahul Mukhi 60’, Kartik
Hantal 65’)
