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Services stuns Punjab

Amitabha Das Sharma

— PHOTO: AFP

IN HOT PURSUIT: Ishfaq Ahmed (right) of J&K and Kerala’s Ebin Rose fight for possession in the Santosh Trophy on Thursday.

SRINAGAR: Services shocked defending champion Punjab 2-1 in the quarterfinal league of the senior National football championship for the Santosh Trophy here on Thursday.

In the second match, Kerala defeated the host Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) 3-1.

Services got the goal early with forward S. Raleng finding the mark in the seventh minute. Services took the initiative by playing long passes backed by speedy attack.Services ran up a decisive 2-0 lead by the half-hour mark. Services’ second goal came following a corner when Lal Ruatafela, playing as the right back, came up to avail the opportunity.

Better show

Punjab put up a better show in the second session. But the effort still lacked the sharpness and direction that could change the scoreline. Punjab reduced the margin in the 67th minute when its forward Harvinder Singh found the net with a cracking right-footer from the top of the box.

Kerala, coached by former international Victor Manjila, showed purpose and grit in containing the misguided belligerence of J&K. Spurred on by a vociferous and partisan crowd, the home side began on a brisk note earning two free-kicks outside the Kerala box.

The Kerala defence was definitely not prepared for the pace of the J&K striker Ishfaq Ahmed and had to adopt desperate measures to stop the latter.

J&K could not do much with the two early free-kicks. Kerala staved off the challenge and went into the lead in the 10th minute.

The home side made the mistake of getting overambitious in its attacks. Kerala swelled its scoreline capitalising on the opportunities provided by the J&K defenders. Kerala got its 10th minute lead when forward Javed O. K. tore through an unguarded J&K box and slotted home.

The home side had a moment to celebrate when Ishfaq Ahmed scored the equaliser in the 42nd minute. The change of ends saw Kerala emerging even stronger. With substitute Martin John playing well upfront, Kerala went into the lead again through Abdul Noushad in the 53rd minute.

J&K earned a chance to equalise but substitute Bilal Ahmed’s attempt came off the crosspiece. Kerala took the match away from J&K when striker Asif Saheer capped a solo effort to make it 3-1 in the 79th minute.

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