Holders Kerala make it to final

Defending champions Kerala warded off a spirited challenge from Services to carve out a 3-2 victory and cruise into the final of the 58th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy here today. The winners led 2-1 at the breather.

Jhony F Gangmei gave Services the lead in the ninth minute from a measured cross by Raghu Kumar to the surprise of the Kerala goalkeeper Stung by the reverse, Kerala went into the offensive and it bore quick success as only three minutes later Tasif Saheer shot home from inside the box.

The golden moment of the match came when Saheer produced a ’bicycle kick’ to a measured cross from Shabeer Ali from the left flank to beat the onrushing goal keeper to make it 2-1 in the 22nd minute. Services got the eaquliser in the 69th minute when Preetam Bahadur headed home from inside the box following a brilliant free kick by Debnath.

K Ajayan then pounced on a lose ball and shot home a stinger, which was too much for Abungobi Singh, in the 78th minute for the match winner.