Mizoram stun favourites Goa 31 to start Santosh Trophy in style

KOLKATA: In the way they creamed favourites Goa, coming back to win 3-1, Mizoram showed that football in that state is a lot more than Aizawl FC who had a fairytale run all the way to the 2016-17 I-league title.

Victorino Fernandes put Goa ahead in the 11th minute but Mizoram equalised through F Lalrinpuia in the 25th minute before Lal Romawia scored in the 81st and the 84th minutes. Fernandes scored after Mizoram lost the ball to Marcus Mascarenhas. Fernandes beat Laldinpuia PC with a smart dribble and slotted home.

In a team that also had Beevan d’mello in the line-up and former India skipper Joachim Abranches on the bench, the goal showed why Goa’s reputation preceded their coming.

Mizoram came close in the 23rd minute but Lalrinpuia’s shot was blocked by Peter Carvalho and drew level when he stabbed home after the ball pinged in the Goa penalty area.

Lal Remruata nearly scored in the 37th minute and headed into the horizontal in the 49th.

Mizoram struck through Romawia after Remruata headed down a delivery from the right by Lalbiakhlua. Romawia then went solo again on the left side of Goa’s defence and slotted home.

PUNJAB WIN

Punjab came back to beat Odisha 2-1 at the Sailen Manna Sports Complex in Howrah. Odisha led through Arpan Lakra in the 62nd minute but Punjab made it 1-1 through Sarbjit in the 69th minute before Rudra Pratap Pradhan’s own goal in the 81st fetched them full points.