MARGAO
Odisha thrashed Goa 4-1 in the final round qualifying match of 76th National Football Championships for Santosh Trophy at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday.
After a 1-1 draw against Maharashtra in its opening match and backed by the vociferous home crowd, Odisha tore the Goa defence with ease to keep their hopes alive for a semifinal berth with 4 points from two matches. Goa are yet to taste victory with no points from two matches after their 2-3 loss to Kerala in their first match.
If there were any lingering doubts about Odisha’s competency in this tournament and their generosity as hosts, they were banished on Sunday. The hosts ran riot against a Goa side that has leaked seven goals in two games now.
Odisha opened the scoring in the 11th minute via Bikash Kumar Sahoo, and within half an hour were two up, and seemingly cruising to an easy win in front of a crowd that had gathered to watch them play. Right before halftime though, Goa struck, Mohammed Faheez converting a penalty to change Salim Pathan’s halftime team talk.
Where caution and stout defending may have been advised, Odisha felt better to attack. They controlled the ball, with ease and speed, constantly harried Goa and scored two more to ensure they cruised to an easy win.
RESULT: GOA 1 (Mahammed Faheez 45+1’P lost to ODISHA 4 (Bikash Kumar Sahoo 11’, Chandra Mohan Murmu 28’, Rahul Mukhi 79’, Anand Oram 90+6’)
