SANTOSH TROPHY Fans support Mizos as they hold Maharashtra for 1-1 draw in opener
VARANASI: A huge turnout of Mizo people made the day special for Mizoram, which snatched vital points from former champions Maharashtra by playing a 1-1 draw in a Group C qualifying round 1 match of the 67th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy.Their fans while carrying play cards, banners etc., kept supporting and cheering the side throughout the 90-minute duel, at the Dr Sampurnand stadium here.
C Lalnunmawia scored for Mizoram in the first half, before Sanjenban Sadanand restoring parity for Maharashtra soon after a change in ends.
Clubbed with co-host Uttar Pradesh, the two sides played some attacking game of soccer. Fifteen times finalist, Maharashtra had to struggle hard against the pint-sized rivals, who were accurate with the short passes.
After a series of missing, Mizoram finally broke the ice through
forward C Lalnunmawia, whose header from up-close the opponent's keeper
drove right into the goal post in the 43rd minute (1-0).
However, the joy of a solitary goal lead was short-lived for Mizoram, as soon after a change in ends, midfielder Sanjenban Sadanand made no mistake in converting a pass from substitute Praneel Mendon into goal to bring parity for Maharashtra in the 47th minute.
Maharashtra's captain NP Pradeep attributed their not-up to-the-mark performance to the long journey from Mumbai to Varanasi via Delhi.
"We had to take a long journey before reaching the venue on Monday. We could not have practice here. The players were not at ease playing for the first time in the field," he said.
UP would take on Mizoram and Maharashtra on February 14 and 16
respectively, to fight for a place in the quarterfinals. WWEDNESDAY'S
FIXTURE Meghalaya vs Orissa (Group B) 2:30 p.m.
However, the joy of a solitary goal lead was short-lived for Mizoram, as soon after a change in ends, midfielder Sanjenban Sadanand made no mistake in converting a pass from substitute Praneel Mendon into goal to bring parity for Maharashtra in the 47th minute.
Maharashtra's captain NP Pradeep attributed their not-up to-the-mark performance to the long journey from Mumbai to Varanasi via Delhi.
"We had to take a long journey before reaching the venue on Monday. We could not have practice here. The players were not at ease playing for the first time in the field," he said.