Santosh Trophy: Services Beat Maharashtra 2-1 to Retain Title

Riding on Arjun Tudu's double strike, Services on Sunday retained the Santosh Trophy National Football Championships title after beating hosts Maharashtra 2-1 in the summit clash. (Read More in Football)

Tudu, a national camper for the SAFF Cup last year, scored twice in the space of 11 minutes (26th and 37th) to help Services clinch their fifth title overall at the SEC Railway Stadium. Mohammed Shabaz had given Maharashtra the lead in the 15th minute.

Services took home Rs. 5 lakh prize money for winning the tournament while Maharashtra got Rs. 3 lakh for finishing runners-up.

Maharashtra surged ahead in the 15th minute. A diagonal pass from Mervin Stephen's outstep of the right foot from outside the box was just perfect.

Shabaz, with a sudden burst of speed sneaked in between the two defenders, chested it down and blasted it into the Services net.

Tudu To The Rescue

Services equalised 11 minutes later. The speed of Tudu created problems for defenders all throughout the tournament and the final was no different. Francis Zununtluanga laid it for Tudu who made no mistake to place it to the right of a diving Owais Khan in Maharashtra goal.

In the 37th minute, a defensive lapse inside the Maharashtra box presented Tudu a chance and from nowhere, he had goalkeeper Owais at his mercy. Typical of a poacher, Tudu guided it into the far corner of the net.

Changing over, Francis intercepted a loose ball and sped past the entire Maharashtra defence and had it not been for Owais rushing out in time, the match may have been settled by the 50th minute itself.

Maharashtra regrouped and with Services preferring to defend deep, the second session was mostly confined to Services' half except for some counter attacks.

Backed by the home crowd, who were growing impatient with every minute, Maharashtra pressed on and created a few chances. They failed to utilise a couple of free-kicks from just outside the box, blasted the side netting from close and sometimes preferred to hold on to the ball for that shade too long allowing the rival defence to regroup.

Services were even reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute when Hardik Kanojiya was shown the red card. But Services held on to their lead to record a memorable win.