Cheered on by a big crowd, Kerala opened its campaign in the men’s football competition on a bright note under a dark sky at the Corporation Stadium here on Sunday night. The host beat Maharashtra 2-1 in an exciting match in Pool ‘A’.
Maharashtra had asked some early questions of the Kerala defenders, who answered them well enough, though. Then, the home side began to make some promising attacks, as they forced three corners in quick succession, but the Maharashtra defence and goalkeeper C.K. Ubaid didn’t buckle.
A little later, however, Ubaid conceded a penalty, as he fouled a dangerous-looking Joby Justine. From the spot, Usman Ashik made no mistake, as the stadium erupted and Kerala went 1-0 up in the 38th minute.
Ubaid’s woes were far from over, as his ability to stop a V.P. Suhair header, gave an alert Jobby the opportunity to make it 2-0 for the host in the 65th minute. But, in the 69th minute, Shabaz Pathan, within a minute of coming in for Sandesh Gadkari, scored for Maharashtra.
Goa routs TN Earlier, also in Pool ‘A’, Goa announced its arrival in style, with a thumping 6-1 victory over Tamil Nadu. In a match watched by a sizeable crowd, despite a 7.30 a.m. kick-off, Tamil Nadu could keep Goa in check initially. Even the early lead taken the Goans didn’t seem to perturb Tamil Nadu much.
Pedro Gonslavles had netted the opening goal, in the 11thminute, following a corner kick taken by Nicholas Fernandes. The cross from Mackroy Peixote found Pedro, who slotted the ball neatly in.
The Goans continued to press hard, but the floodgates were not opened yet. Instead, Tamil Nadu equalised in the 37thminute, as Sirajuddeen converted the penalty awarded for handling the ball. No more goals came in the opening half which ended at 1-1.The second half saw the Goans running riot though. Their second goal proved the pick of the morning, as Nicholas, from close in, volleyed in a smart cross from the right by Perryson Rebellom, in the 58th minute.
Then, skipper Marcus Mascarenhas (in the 88th and 90th), Micky Fernandes (63rd) and Mario Mascarenhas (70th) made it a tennis score for Goa.
The results:
Kerala 2 (Usman Ashik 38th, Joby Justine 65th) bt Maharashtra 1 (Shabaz Pathan 69th).
Goa 6 (Nicholas Fernandes, 11th, Pedro Gonslaves 17th, Micky Fernandes 63rd, Mascarenhas 88th and 90th, and Mario Mascarenhas 70th) bt Tamil Nadu 1 (Sirajuddeen 38th).
