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Goa clinches Santosh Trophy

Last updated on: November 22, 2005 00:42 IST

Formidable Goa, after 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, in Kochi on Monday.

The teams were locked 1-1 after regulation time.

Felip Gomes (73rd minute), Nicholau Rodrigues (15th minute in extra-time) and substitute Joaquim Abranches (9th minute in the second period of extra-time) scored for the Goans, while Soccor Velho (72nd minute) found the target for Maharashtra.

In a fitting finale to the tournament, both Goa and Maharashtra enthralled soccer fans with their pleasing game. Though Goans had slight edge in the exchanges, Maharashtra matched their famed opponents, and on a couple of occasions threatened to forge ahead.

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The Goans could have won the match by a bigger margin, but for inaccurate marksmanship of their strikers, Freddy Mascarenhas and Anthony Pereira, who messed up chances from close.

They also missed a golden opportunity to settle the issue in regulation time 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, but Climax, who took the kick, drove over the horizontal, much to the dismay of his teammates.