Maharashtra, Goa in final

Later in the evening, Goa scored an unconvincing 2-0 win, after a solitary goal lead, against Gujarat. Denzil Coutinho and captain Lazarus Fernandes scored in that order.

Both Maharashtra, the Group A winners, and Goa, who finished on top of Group B, will now clash in the final scheduled for Saturday. Only one team qualifies for the tournament proper to be held in Jamshedpur later this month. Maharashtra had failed to qualify last year.

Suresh Singh opened the account for Maharashtra in the fifth minute. R Mahato consolidated in the 19th minute and Thomba made it 3-0 in the 21st minute. When Mahato and Thomba struck a second time each in the 31st minute 4-0and 32nd minute 5-0 respectively, it was curtains for Daman.

Khan made it 6-0 39th minute, Suresh bulged the tally with four goals, three of them coming in the second-half and Nayak spoiled Suresh8217;s chances of a hat-trick by scoring the ninth goal.

Goa, too, had things their own way against Gujarat, but unlike Maharashtra, marksmanship was not their strong point.

Advin Fernandes, Sebastian Mendes and Felix Albuquerque, twice, muffed easy chances that came their way and once, Gujarat goalkeeper Deepak Sisodia frustrated a top-of-the-box attempt by Felix.

Stopper Coutinho gave Goa the lead in the 32nd minute. He out-jumped the entire defence and nodded home following a corner from the left by Sebastian Mendes.

Gujarat had a lone chance in the opening session. But striker Mukesh Parmar, who was unmarked at the top of the box, shot the ball inches over the crosspiece.

In the second-half, it was Goa all the way. Their strikers, however, were in a prodigal mood. Sebastian shot over and Gujaratdefender Kanhaiyalal Dular brought off a goalline save following another fine header by Coutinho following a corner.

Goa put the issue beyond doubt in the 72nd minute. Captain Lazarus Fernandes found the net through the legs of goalkeeper Sisodia, following a cross from the left by Anish Pereira.