Bhubaneswar: Kerala drew with former champions Maharashtra in the crucial Santosh Trophy football match. Both the teams scored four goals in the match which was full of excitement until the last minute.
Against Maharashtra, who were ahead by four goals to one in the first half, Kerala fought back with three goals in the second half to regain the lost game. Visakh Mohanan, Nijo Gilbert, V. for Kerala. Arjun and John Paul scored the goals. Sufian Sheikh (two goals), Himanshu Patil and Sumit Bhandari scored for Maharashtra.
It was Maharashtra who attacked from the start of the game and took the first lead in the match. In the 17th minute, Sufiyan Sheikh scored the goal. Maharashtra took the lead within three minutes after shocking Kerala. Captain Himanshu Patil scored the second goal in the 20th minute. Third goal in the 35th minute. Sumit Bhandari scored the goal.
Soon after, Visakh Mohan returned a goal for Kerala. With only minutes to go in the first half, Soufian netted again. However, the second half saw Kerala come back into the game. In the 65th minute, Nijo Gilbert scored the penalty in favor of Kerala. V. who came as a substitute in the 71st minute. Arjun shook the net for Kerala.
John Paul scored the fourth goal in the 78th minute. With a draw, Kerala’s semi chances are in the balance. After defeating Goa in the first match, Kerala lost to Karnataka in the second match. Kerala is fourth in the six-team group with four points. Karnataka and Punjab are on the first and second positions with seven points.
Punjab and Odisha are the closest rivals. It is not enough for Kerala to win these two matches to enter the semi-finals, they will have to rely on the results of other matches as well.