Defending champions Services came from behind to beat Punjab 3-1 in extra time a thrilling semifinal of the 67th Santosh Trophy football championship here on Friday to set up a title clash with hosts Kerala.
Kerala had beaten Maharashtra 2-1 in the first semifinal on Thursday. The final will be held on Sunday.
Dhanji Singh and Lalian Mawia scored in the span of nine minutes of the second half of extra time to dash Punjab’s hopes of a final berth after hanging on to their 20th minute lead commendably well in spite of being a man down early in the second half.
Vijay Kumar’s early lead was cancelled out by Services substitute C Lalian Mawia in the 86th minute. Taranjit Singh was sent off in the 57th minute.
The teams were locked 1-1 after regulation time.Punjab looked the more purposeful side in the opening exchanges of the tie and were rewarded for their attacking intent in the 20th minute when Rohit’s header from Taranjit’s cross took a deflection off Vijay Kumar’s chest to enter the goal.
Two minutes later, Harnek Singh’s boys almost doubled the lead.
Bali Gagandeep took a sharp turn inside the box after being fed by Taranjit from the right flank. But his effort was inches wide.Taranjit was impressive down the right flank sending in smart crosses which at times looked threatening. One such floater was met by Rohit in the 35th minute, but his strike missed the target by a whisker.
Services were denied room in the middle of the park which has been there key operation area with fleet-footed players like Shadip Rai and ZV Horin deprived of space to orchestrate goalmouth chances.Punjab suffered a big blow when Taranjit was given the marching orders in the 57th minute after being booked for playacting.
Services capitalised on the numerical advantage in the dying minutes of the match with substitute Mawia equalising.
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