Maharashtra left to rue mistakes after 1-3 loss to Bihar

by Chittu Shetty January 31, 2018

A superb 2^nd half performance amounting to a Hat-trick from Rafael Soren gave Bihar an important come from behind win over Maharashtra to open up group B of Junior National Football Championship BC Roy Trophy 2017-18

Picture Credit: Amar Ujala Bureau, Una

Riding high from their 3-0 win in the opening game against Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra fielded two changes in the line up against Bihar, bringing in the two substitute goal-scorers of the last game – Aryan Banerjee and Sandesh Kasar, in to the playing eleven.

On the other end, Bihar looked to bounce back from the 0-4 trashing faced against Chandigarh. However it was in-form Maharashtra that took the lead in the game around the half hour mark, courtesy of Johnson Mathews strike. From then on Bihar fought back well changing tactics to an attacking approach and in the 46^th minute Rafael Soren equalized. With the game on level terms, a mistake from Maharashtra keeper led to Soren capitalising on it with a goal, putting Bihar into led.

With a goal down, Maharashtra put men forward in search of equaliser but the goal eluded them despite some good chances. By putting men forward, Maharashtra often let their defence exposed and in the 89^th minute, Soren notched his 3^rd goal of the day as Bihar made it 3-1 to put the game in to bed.

In the other game, Chandigarh huffed and puffed to a 1-0 win against Andhra Pradesh to move to the top. With back to back losses, Andhra Pradesh are out of the progression chances while both Bihar and Maharashtra are now on three points with Chandigarh topping the group B with six points. The last group games will be played on 2^nd of Feb with Bihar facing Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra locking horns with Chandigarh. While win is a necessity for both Bihar and Maharashtra, Chandigarh can go through with a draw as the fight for the top spot intensifies.

Group B: Maharashtra (Johnson Mathews 32’) 1 – 3 Bihar (Rafael Soren 46’, 59’, 89’)