Santosh Trophy: Meghalaya through to quarterfinals; Tamil Nadu draws 1-1 against Odisha

Santosh Trophy: Meghalaya through to quarterfinals; Tamil Nadu draws 1-1 against Odisha

Meghalaya moved into the quarterfinals of the 78th Santosh Trophy senior national football championship with a 1-0 win against Goa while Tamil Nadu and Odisha were locked in a one-all draw at Deccan Arena here on Sunday.

In a match that saw both Meghalaya and Goa squander a host of chances, it was Damanbhalang Chyne (89’) who finally made the difference as he converted a penalty to take his side into the quarterfinals.

Goa, which went into the match on the back of two losses and just a solitary win, needed points against Meghalaya to help itself in its fight to make the last eight. After a solid first half, Goa put five defenders to protect its goal. Meghalaya, however, kept attacking in waves.

Khraw Kupar Jana looked lively down the right and had an opportunity from a slight angle to put it past Goa goalkeeper Sanij Budge, but sent his effort over the crossbar. Donald Diengdoh had a couple of close opportunities, but one came off the upright, while the other was off target.

Meghalaya was getting desperate as the clock wore down, but soon found a lifeline when substitute Deibormane Tongper’s shirt was tucked inside the Goa box; the referee immediately pointed to the spot with Chyne closing off the three points for Meghalaya.

In the other match, Tamil Nadu’s search for its first win continued after it was held to a 1-1 draw by Odisha.

Alexander Romario Jesuraj (68’) sparked Tamil Nadu’s hopes of victory, converting a penalty to put his side ahead. But the advantage lasted seven minutes as Rahul Mukhi (75’) darted on to an aerial through ball behind the defence before poking it past the keeper to put Odisha level.

Odisha remained fourth in Group B with four points from as many games. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, stayed at the bottom of the table with two points from the same number of matches.