Santosh Trophy: Maharashtra Outclasses Tripura with 3-1 Victory

by Chittu Shetty October 21, 2023

In a riveting Santosh Trophy Group F showdown, Maharashtra displayed their mettle with a commanding 3-1 victory over an unyielding Tripura side.

The game began cautiously, with both teams probing and testing each other’s defenses. Tripura exhibited a staunch defense early on, effectively thwarting Maharashtra’s attempts to breach their lines.

The breakthrough arrived in the 13th minute, as captain Nikhil Kadam played a masterful long ball over Tripura’s defensive line. Armash Ansari seized the opportunity, displaying remarkable speed as he eluded the offside trap. With extraordinary finesse, Ansari lofted the ball over the oncoming keeper, giving Maharashtra a well-earned 1-0 lead.

The 24th minute presented a turning point when Tripura’s defender Moinuddin was shown a red card. Within the span of just two minutes, Moinuddin received his second yellow card, with his high boot striking the face of Armash Ansari. Reduced to ten men, Tripura faced a challenging uphill battle. Remarkably, the game had already seen five yellow cards handed to Tripura within the initial 28 minutes.

Despite being down a player, Tripura’s defense remained resolute, denying Maharashtra’s scoring efforts. Their goalkeeper made crucial interceptions of crosses, ensuring that the scoreline remained unaltered until the halftime whistle.

The second half witnessed a reinvigorated Tripura side that initially defended resolutely before gaining confidence and initiating their own offensive sequences. Their endeavors yielded results in the 67th minute when a long pass from the defense was capitalized on by Bilash Debbarma. His cross into the box was initially met by Yash Shukla, but the rebound fell perfectly for Tripura’s captain, Lalvenga Darlong, who slotted it into the net, equalizing the score at 1-1.

Not to be outdone, Maharashtra responded swiftly. Only two minutes after the equalizer, they were awarded a penalty as Armash Ansari was fouled inside the penalty area. Captain Nikhil Kadam stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, deceiving the goalkeeper by sending him the wrong way, and Maharashtra surged ahead 2-1.

Tripura, however, continued to display their fighting spirit, launching determined attacks, but Maharashtra’s defense held firm, thwarting their efforts to draw level.

In the first minute of injury time, Maharashtra cleverly executed a corner kick. Captain Nikhil Kadam played a quick corner, passing it to Advait, who teed it up for an unmarked Himanshu in front of the goal. Himanshu’s simple tap-in put the game to bed, securing Maharashtra’s 3-1 victory.

With this impressive win, Maharashtra maintained their spot at the top of the group table, boasting a remarkable four-game winning streak.

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