Source: Hueiyen News Service
Chennai, June 11 2009:
In a keenly contested battle Goa defeated Tamil Nadu by a solitary goal in the second semi-final of the 63rd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at, Nehru Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.
Goa will now face Bengal in the finals on Sunday.
Tamil Nadu had no one but themselves to be blamed for the defeat as despite playing better they conceded a penalty in the dying moment to hand Goa the victory.
Both the teams played an attacking game in the start but slowly it was shifted to mid-field area.
It was hosts that started on a positive note as in the 19th minute Bengkok chipped the ball from left flank but there was no striker to connect it.
Five minutes later Suresh cross had Muthu dribbling past two defenders but the strikers cross from right had the ball deflecting off Felix's gloves but Bengkok was late in reacting.
Goa slowly and gradually got their acts together and in the 29th minute Joaquim Abranches cross was put away to safety by Ravanan to give Goa flag kick but Nicholas Rodrigues shot had an unmarked Abranches heading it off target.
Three minutes later a Kulothungan cross had Muthu shooting it over the bar.
As the match progressed both teams tried hard to find the net but failed.
In the 37th minute Abranches had the best chance of the match as he had to put the ball over Tamil Nadu custodian VP Sathish Kumar but he chipped the ball over the bar.
A minute later Tamil Nadu too had their chance as Muthu's shot was blocked by Goa custodian Felix D Souza to find an unmarked Riju who shot over
the bar.
Five minutes later Marcus Mascarenhas shot was saved by Sathish as the match entered into the lemon break without a goal being scored.
The start of the second half had Tamil Nadu dominating and having better ball possession.
The game was played more in the mid-field area and there were hardly any shots taken at the goal in the initial moments.
Hosts Tamil Nadu paid the price for not converting the chances that they got.
In the 74th minute Muthu hit straight to the hands of Felix and seven minutes later a Suresh cross had Muthu heading it perfectly but an alert Goa custodian managed to get his hand to the ball and Mahesh Gawli cleared safely.
Tamil Nadu tried hard but were not lucky enough to find the back of the net as in the 83rd minute Riju cross had Muthu's powerful shot saved by Felix.
In the dying minutes Kali Alaudeen pulled down Francis Fernandes and referee Pratap Singh immediately awarded Goa a penalty.
An experienced Climax Lawrence utilised the situation well to score the winner for his team as Goa paved their way into the finals.