Services comfortable winners of Third Place Match

by Chittu Shetty March 5, 2023

With a clinical performance, former champions Services claimed third place in the 76th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy after beating Punjab 2-0 in the playoff match at the King Fahd International Stadium, here on Saturday.

The battle for third place between Services and Punjab was no cliffhanger as the former struck once in each half to win the game 2-0. Not that the winners had overwhelming dominance on the outing, but their ability to strike when the opportunities arose, made all the difference.

P.R. Shafeel opened the score for Services in the 7th minute and P Christopher Kamei scored their second goal in the 60th minute to seal victory for the team representing the defence outfits and which had last won the title in 2018-19.

Shafeel PP put Services in the lead in the seventh minute when his rather innocuous attempt eluded the Punjab custodian Rajat Kumar, much to the frustration of his teammates and the bench. Punjab did make some forays in the rival half, but the second goal at the hour mark broke their resistance.

P Christopher Kemei took a long ranger that didn’t have the required sting, but the ball somehow managed to make its way into the Punjab goal.

A few minutes later, the losing team’s custodian took matters rather lightly while trying to clear the ball and only a last-minute clearance by a defender saved the Punjab goal from falling for the third time.

FT: Punjab 0 – 2 Services (Shafeel Pp 7′, P Christopher Kamei 60′)

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