Goa strike gold, enter final

GUWAHATI, April 24: The first knock-out game of the 54th Santosh Trophy football championship went into extra-time at the Nehru Stadium here...

GUWAHATI, April 24: The first knock-out game of the 54th Santosh Trophy football championship went into extra-time at the Nehru Stadium here today. Maharashtra were knocked out by a golden goal in the second half of extra-time by Goa as they entered their third consecutive final. The goal was scored by Francis Silviera, his fourth of the tournament. He is well on the road towards collecting the highest scorer award of Rs 50,000.

Goa began aggressively while Maharashtra adopted the wait-and-watch policy. Maharashtra might have done this to conserve energy on a ground made heavy due to rain. But they carried it too far and at times, had as many as six players in defence. Even the wings were not utilised as both Ratan Singh on the left and Taposh Ghosh on the right were reluctant to move up.

Goa got the first chance in the 10th minute when Bruno Coutinho put Silviera through. Maharashtra defender Ajay Acharya managed to clear it but only as far as Cyril Barreto. The Goan mid-fielder headed over the goal evenas goalkeeper Partha Das was out of position. Maharashtra got their first shot at the goal in the 19th minute. Taposh Ghosh put Anthony Fernandes through, who flicked it to Abbas Ali Rizvi on the right. The swerving 25 yard right-footer landed safely in Goa goalkeeper Juje Siddi8217;s arms. Just four minutes after the break, Coutinho8217;s free-kick dipped into Das8217; arms.

Coutinho, who recovered from an stomach ailment enough to play today, was again in the focus with a throw-in this time. The ball reached skipper Mario Soares, whose back-flick header inside the six-yard box was saved by Das.

Rizvi put Fernandes through on the right, who had an open goal in sight. However, Siddi charged out to narrow the gap. Fernandes8217; shot hit the goalkeeper before going out. After the goalless regulation time, Maharashtra started the extra-time attacking. Andrew Louis found Rizvi on the right, but Jules Albert sent it out just in time. Rizvi helped create the next opening with a cross from the right but Herbert Philip couldnot connect. The goal in the 125th minute, finally put Goa into the final.