Malappuram: Kerala reached the semifinals of the Santosh Trophy football. Captain Jijo Joseph’s double helped Kerala reach the semifinals as group champions. In the last match of the group stage, Kerala defeated Punjab by two goals to one. After trailing by one goal, Kerala won by two goals.
Captain Jijo Joseph scored for Kerala in the 17th and 86th minutes. With the defeat, Punjab was eliminated from the semis. Kerala, who lost to Meghalaya in the last match, came into the first XI with two changes. Salman and Shikil replaced Safnad and Nijo Gilbert in the starting XI.
Punjab took the lead in the 12th minute of the first half. Manveer got the ball from the right wing on a defensive error and hit the goal post. Kerala goalkeeper Mithun saved the ball but it turned into a goal. In the 17th minute, Arjun Jayaraj converted a beautiful ball from the left wing into the box by a header by captain Jijo Joseph.
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Kerala drew 1-1 and kept on beating Punjab. Kerala took the lead in the 86th minute of the second half. In the pass box given by Sanju from the left wing, captain Jijo Joseph, who was behind the Punjab defenders, landed on the chest and converted it.