Services scrape past Kerala to enter Santosh Trophy final

Services are the first team to reach the finals at the 66th edition of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy after beating Kerala 2-1 and now await the winner of the second semifinal Manipur and Tamil Nadu. The tournament is being played from May 11 to 28 across Orissa in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Baragarh.

Services surged into the lead as early as the fifth minute when Kerala stopper Mohammed Marsook failed to clear a Sanju Subba cross in the box and Subrata Sarkar was agile enough to capitalise – chipping it over Kerala custodian Joby Joseph. After the early set-back Kerala tried to regroup. But they weren't allowed the space in midfield to manoeuvre as the nippy Services recovered faster than their rivals. Upfront Kerala striker R. Kannan with his deft touches and positional sense did catch the rivals unaware a couple of times, but he didn't get much support. Maybe that prompted Kannan to go solo. In the 19th minute, his ambitious over-head kick sailed over and then in the 34th minute his long-ranger was fisted over by Services goalkeeper Nanao Singh.

For Services, Captain Gordon Zoramchhana who preferred to fall down and operate from the deep, played the pivotal role. He often fed Santu Subba, who broke through quite a few times down the right. The goal apart, Services' best chance came in the 36th minute when Subrata failed to beat Joby from close after being set in the clear by a Horin through pass. Five minutes later Kerala striker Usman missed an easier one. Off a corner, Kannan soared above all to head it to an unmarked Usman P. who blasted wide even as Nanao stayed out of position.

Changing over, Services doubled the lead in the 50th minute. A harmless P.S. Sumesh cross was back-headed into his own net by Kerala defender Mohammed Marsook. But Kerala didn't give-up. In the 55th minute, Kannan broke down the right and his low centre needed a tap from Usman; but the latter failed. Kerala did attack relentlessly as Kannan wrecked havoc in the Services box for most part of the second half. But even he failed to reduce the margin when he blasted out from inside the box in the 70th minute. Services goalkeeper Nanao's reflexes further denied Kerala within a span of two minutes. First in the 75th minute, he denied Shibinlal’s first-timer and then in the 77th minute, he palmed away Usman's tap to frustrate Kerala. However, Nanao pulling down Usman in the 83rd minute in the box with substitute Vineet Anthony converting from the spot.

With a few minutes remaining Kerala went all out. But Services survived some anxious moments and managed to hold on to reach the finals.