HYDERABAD — Meghalaya
secured themselves a spot in the 78th Senior Men’s National Football
Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 quarter-finals after they beat Goa
1-0, while Tamil Nadu and Odisha played out a 1-1 draw at the Deccan Arena on
Sunday.
The northeastern side now moves on to seven points from four
matches in Group B, and cannot be overtaken by fifth-placed Goa, who are on
three points from as many games. The former are currently second in the group
behind Kerala.
Meghalaya won a hard-fought battle against Goa, winning it
1-0 in the end, by dint of a late penalty. The score remained goalless at
half-time.
In a match that saw both sides squander a host of chances,
it was Damanbhalang Chyne (89’), who finally made the difference as he
converted a penalty to take Meghalaya into the quarter-finals.
Goa, who went into the match on the back of two losses and
just a solitary win, needed points against Meghalaya to help them in their
fight to make the last eight. After a solid first half, the side from the west
coast put five defenders to protect their 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. Donald Diengdoh had a couple of close opportunities, but
one came off the upright, while the other was off target.
Meghalaya were getting desperate as the clock wore down, but
they soon found their lifeline when substitute Deibormane Tongper’s shirt was
tugged inside the Goa box; the referee immediately pointed to the spot, Chyne
closing off the three points for Meghalaya.
Tamil Nadu’s search for their first win in the Santosh
Trophy 2024-25 final rounds continued after they were held to a 1-1 draw by
Odisha. The teams were locked in a goalless battle till the break.
Alexander Romario Jesuraj (68’) put Tamil Nadu's hopes in of
victory after he converted a penalty to put his side ahead.
Their lead was only to last seven minutes, however, as Rahul
Mukhi (75’) darted on to an aerial through ball behind the defence, before
poking it past the keeper to put Odisha level. The latter remain fourth in
Group B with four points from as many games so far. Tamil Nadu, on the other
hand, stay rock bottom with two points from the same number of matches.
