Maharashtra sinks Rajasthan in Santosh Trophy qualifying round

by Siddharth Yadav January 5, 2017

4th January: Maharashtra faced Rajasthan in the opener of the Qualifying Round of 71st Santosh Trophy at Rajmata Chunkumari Stadium, Waidhan – Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.

The last season’s runner-up Maharashtra produced a brilliant performance to romp Rajasthan 4-0 to qualify for the next round. Shravan Shetty, Abhishek Amberkar, Astle Pereira, and Kiran Pandhare scored one each to complete a comprehensive victory.

Maharashtra started off brilliantly as they dominated the match proceedings for the major part of the game. After failing to convert key chances in the first twenty-five minutes, striker Shravan Shetty opened the scoring after a neat strike to put Maharashtra in front.

Godfrey Pereira’s side went into the break with a solitary lead and started the second-half in a similar fashion when Abhishek Amberkar doubled Maharashtra’s lead in the fifty-seventh minute.

His lightning pace and knack to find space in the opposition defence sent a thunderous shot into the bottom corner to take the tie beyond Rajasthan’s reach.

Kiran Pandhare and Astle Pereira scored the third and fourth goal respectively in the fourth quarter of the match to put the tie to bed as Maharashtra prevails into the next round.

The win served as a message for Maharashtra who lost out to Services last year, the confidence and dedication seems to be growing day by day with only time can say the final outcome.

After the victory, Maharashtra gaffer Godfrey Pereira said: “It is a massive victory, a very important three points. Tough game & we played some impressive football to set the tone, so the value of the victory is massive.

“It makes us very proud and we showed character and were competitive. It is one step forward for the team and is important to keep going. Football is about belief,”

“We have shown we can challenge for the big things. We are in a good position.”

Maharashtra will be facing Gujarat in the final match of the group on 8th January 2017 for Qualification into the final round of the tournament.