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Goa clinches Santosh Trophy KOCHI, NOV 21 (PTI) Formidable Goa, asserting their supremacy right through the tourney, clinched the prestigious Santosh Trophy defeating a fighting Maharashtra 3-1 in extra time in the Air India Express National Football Championship here tonight. The two teams had ended in a deadlock scoring one goal apiece at the regulation time. Felip Gomes (73rd), Nicholu Rodrigues in the 15th minute of the first extra time and substitute Joaquim Abranches completed the tally in the 9th minute of the second extra time for the Goans, while Soccor Velho (72nd) found the target for Maharashtra. In a fitting finale to the tournament, both Goa and Maharashtra enthralled the soccer fans with their pleasing game. Though Goans had slight edge in the exchanges, Maharashtra too matched their famed rivals and on a couple of occasions threatened to forge ahead. Goans, could have won the match by a bigger margin, but for the inaccurate marksmanship of their frontmen Freddy Mascarenhas and Antony Pereira, who had messed up chances from close. Goans had also missed a golden opportunity when they earned a penalty for an off the ball foul by Maharashtra goalkeeper Israt Kamal on Climax Lawrence. Referee Shaji C Kurien of Kerala had no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded point and Climax, who took the shot, drove over the horizontal much to the dismay of his teammates. Goa, enjoying a slight upperhand over Maharashtra, went for the attack from the word go and were all over their rivals initially. But their attempt to find an early breakthrough went in vain as the Maharashtra defence manned by Santosh Koli and Clifford Kilmo tightened the screws in the rear. Maharashtra, who took some time to settle down, slowly took control of the proceedings. They even threatened to take the lead in the 10th minute when Medio Paresh Shivalkar, who got possession of the ball in the midfield sprinted on the left flank, dodged past two defenders and crossed into the centre, but Reuben D'Souza was a fraction late in latching on to the ball and the opportunity went abegging. With strikers Soccor Velho and Reuben always breathing down the rival neck with their immense sprinting ability, Maharashtra spelt danger constantly, but they messed up at the crucial juncture. Maharashtra, soon messed up a flagkick as none of their strikeforce was there to trap the curling drive by Rauf Khan and a minute later Santosh Koli drove over another flagkick by Steven Dias. Goa, who seemed subdued, suddenly sprang to life and attackd vigourously. Shivalkar, who played an all-round game spurred the strikers Velho and Reuben with accurate diagonals was also seen falling back to the aid of the stoppers. Goa too got a chance to forge ahead in the 32nd minute, but Micky Fernandes who was inside the Maharashtra box, though was able to trap neatly a cross by Freddy Mascarenhas from the right, but delayed in taking his shot and fumbled with the opportunity. A Freddy shot from close hit the defender and went out and on another occasion Antony Pereira messed up a neat through-pass from John Barreto from the right flank. The Goan way of penetrating into the rival half with a series of square passes caught the Maharashtra rear off the guard, however could not convert it into goals as their frontmen indulged in hasty shots which went straight into the hands of Israt Kamal or sailed over the horizontal. The Goan midfiled functioned with flexibility and medio Climax Lawrence was seen sending his forwards time and again with diagonal and short passes, but they fumbled when it mattered the most. The second session also saw both the team sharing the honours with occasional burst into the rival goalmouth, but without any success. However, the Goans and large share in exchanges. The ball stayed with the Goans and they threatened to take grip over the match. Goa could have taken the lead in the 50th minute but a stinging 20-yard long ranger by climax narrowly missed the target. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Felik came to the rescue of Goa by flunging to his left to bring off an excellent save a Rauf Khan grounder, for an abortive corner. Climax who withdrew quite often to plug the holes in the halfline came out with a string of defense splitting passes but were messed up by Freddy and Antony Pereira. Maharashtra too switched gears and brought in a sense of urgency in their attack and soon the Goan goal had a narrow escape as Reuben, failed to take advantage off a cross by Velho into the centre.
