|
Bhubaneswar: Services regained the Santosh Trophy after a long gap of five decades, edging out a fighting Tamil Nadu 3-2 in the final of the 66th Senior National Football Championship here at the floodlit Barabati Stadium on Monday.
A goal each by Sanju Subba (45th), Subrata Sarkar (49th) and VV Farhad (67th) put the aggressive Services side in the driver’s seat.
However, two back-to-back goals by Tamil Nadu through Santa Kumar (82nd), M Ramesh (89th) brought momentum in the match.
However, Services successfully defended their one-goal lead till the final whistle.
After a series of abortive attacks, Services midfielder Sanju Subba drew first when his right footer from the left-corner of the box beat the opposition custodian Akhil Soman.
Subrata Sarkar doubled the lead off a goalmouth melee in the 49th minute while VV Farhad tapped it past an onrushing Akhil for the third goal in the 67th minute.
Despite slippery underfoot conditions, caused by thunder storm shortly before the summit clash, Services dominated the proceeding by keeping possession of the ball.
Their forward were not allowed the width to penetrate into the box till the fag end of the first half. Barring the last 10 minutes, Services asserted their supremacy in the second half as well.
Led by Gordon Zoramchhana, Services lifted the coveted silver trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs and the runners-up team took home Rs 3 lakhs.
Farhad VV of champion team bagged Man of the Final award.
|
