Maharashtra join Kerala in battle for Santosh Trophy

Maharashtra took lead in the 33rd minute when striker Manjit Singh surprised Bengal custodian Brasanta Dora with a 25-yarder that bulged the net.

Hardly had the cheers died down when Bengal, in a counter-attack, struck the neutraliser two minutes later through Raman Vijayan. The spadework was done by captain Basudev Mandal who, after getting possession on the left flank, sent in a curling shot. Raman Vijayan leapt high to nod the ball in.

Unnerved, Maharashtra stepped up the pace of the game and the Bengal defence wilted under time pressure time and finally fell during injury time. Prasanta Dora, who charged out to gather the ball, brought down Khalid Siddique who was inside the area with the ball. Referee Michael Andrews of Kerala had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Naushad Moosa converted the spot kick to put his team 2-1 at the lemon break.

After substitute Dipankar Roy had messed up a good chance from inside, which he drove over with Virender Singh at his mercy, Bengal were denied another chance. Maharashtra defender Ramesh Rajak made a valiant goalline save after Virender had allowed Dipankar’s shot to bounce off his hands.

With minutes to go for the final whistle, Maharashtra sealed the match when substutite Tomba Singh, after a passing bout with hardworking Khalid Jamil, banged to the right of a diving Dora.

Much was expected from 29-time title winners Bengal who struggled throughout. At the other end, Maharashtra continued their form shown in the preliminary round at Chalakudy, to set up a title clash with Kerala on April 23.

Bengal, who had been winning the title on trot since 1993-94 at Cuttack, showed promise in the initial stages of the second session when they gave some anxious moments to their rivals but failed to keep up the tempo and had themselves to blame.

Bengal coach Shankar Moitra said, “Maharashtra played well. My boys tried their best.” He added the penalty kick awarded to Maharashtra was “not fair.”

The match got off to a rousing start with Maharashtra on the offensive straightaway. Inspired by medio Aqueel Ansari’s brilliant scheming and diagonal passes, the Maharashtra strike force of Mohammed Najeeb-Abbas Ali Rizvi-Manjit Singh peppered the Bengal defence with a flurry of attack.

Hardworking Ansari sent his passes accurately and beat the rival defenders with his confident approach. However, his good work did not bring in the desired result as his strikers often lost possession of the ball inside the goalmouth to the sturdy Bengal defence in which Falguni Dutta and Hossain Mustafa did well.