Santosh Trophy: Maharashtra score easy win over Gujarat
Maharashtra, who led 1-0 at half-time, scored through Allan Dias (6th, 63rd) and substitute Sushant Bhivgade in the stoppage time.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: January 30, 2014 08:30 PM IST
Allan Dias struck twice as Maharashtra scored an easy 3-0 win over Gujarat in a Group A West Zone qualifying round match of Santosh Trophy Senior National Football Championship here on Thursday.
Maharashtra, who led 1-0 at half-time, scored through Allan Dias (6th, 63rd) and substitute Sushant Bhivgade in the stoppage time.
Maharashtra, who dominated the match throughout with quick short passes, used the flanks well and created several chances. They could have won by bigger margin had Allan Dias not missed many chances.
Dias, who saw his volley off Steven Dias cross hit the bar early in the third minute, gave Maharashtra the lead in the sixth minute when he shot home from close off a cross from Lineker Machedo from the right.
The experience of Steven Dias and Paresh Shivalkar came handy as they used the flanks well to put pressure on the rival defence with measured crosses.
Allan Dias made amends for his earlier misses in the second half when he increased the lead in the 63rd minute off a pass from Shaique Mohammed.
Rival keeper Steven Fernandes brought off some good saves before Substitute Sushant Bhivgade added to the score sheet in the stoppage time to give Maharashtra a easy win.
Gujarat now play their next match on February 1 against Madhya Pradesh.
In another match played at Duler Stadium, Goa thrashed Daman and Diu 5-0 in the group B match.