Punjab pip Maharashtra 2-1 to enter Santosh Trophy final

GURGAON: Punjab scripted a fine rally to pip Maharashtra 2-1 and book their place in the final of the 61st Santosh Trophy national football championship here on Sunday.

Punjab have made it to the title clash after two years and would be keen to go one better this time after being beaten by Kerala in the final in Delhi two years ago.

The final would also provide an opportunity for Punjab to break their nearly 20-year title drought in the national championship.

Skipper Abhishek Yadav had put Maharashtra ahead in the 43rd minute when he tapped home a superb centre from the industrious Paresh Shivalkar.

The goal came against the run of play as Maharashtra was clearly the better side till then. But Punjab responded after the break when Baldeep Singh (61st) and Parveen Kumar (68th) found the net.

Baldeep slotted the ball home after the pressure put by Punjab on the rival defence bore fruit on the hour mark and a long throw-in created confusion in the Maharashtra penalty.

The equaliser, greeted by rapturous applause from the crowd which treated the neighbours as almost a home team, boosted the confidence of Jagir Singh's side which mounted one offensive after another. They deservedly took the lead in the 68th minute when a brilliant through ball from Sukhjinder was taken in his stride by Parveen who made no mistake.

In the first period, both teams showed no lack of endeavour but could not deal the killer blow. Punjab shaved the first half with Parveen Kumar and Yadwinder Singh repeatedly gerring behind the Maharashtra defence. Baldeep Singh was the chief playmaker for the team but Punjab sorely missed the presence of Manjeet Singh, who could not shake off his ankle injury. The goal was a major setback for the team from north India which had given several anxious moments to last year's runners-up.

 In as early as the sixth minute, Baldeep made a useful cross into the box which was headed over by Amrinder Singh. Maharashtra replied a couple of minutes later when Kasif Jamal got a chance to test Kameshwar Singh in the Punjab goal, but he scuffed the shot. In the 29th minute, Adil Ansari, who had already found the net twice in the championship, showed good ball control to evade the attention of two defenders, but his shot went wide off the post.

Punjab went close again in the 35th minute, when Shivraj Singh's free-kick found the side netting. Jaspal tested Maharashtra goalkeeper Subhashish Roychoudhury in the 40th minute when his strong shot was palmed away, followed by Baldeep's shot which went over.

With a deficit at the break, Punjab started the second half with all guns blazing and almost camped in the opposition half. In the 52nd minute, Daljit Singh's fine cross was headed over by Sukhjinder. But their fine play soon paid dividends as they struck twice within 10 minutes.