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Maharashtra rout MP 6-1 to make quarters

The Maharashtra State Team kept their winning momentum and thrashed Madhya Pradesh 6-1 in their second game of the league phase of the Santosh Trophy 2014, which was played at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco, Goa on Monday. With this second back to back win, Maharashtra have qualified for the Quarter final stage from the West Zone to be played in Siliguri from the 24th Feb.

Though maharshtra were attacking from the start, It took them till the 33rd minute to break the deadlock. Steven Dias went surging on the right wing to make an inch perfect cross for Allan Dias, whose header gave no chance to the defenders and the hapless goalkeeper to take Maharashtra 1-0 into half time.

In the second half coach Ireno Vaz changed the strategy with mid fielders trying solo runs and through balls, in which Linekar in the 47th min succeeded with a 33 yards solo effort from the centre to score a spectacular goal and make it 2-0.

In the 67th min Paresh Shivalkar’s cross from the left evaded the goalkeeper’s out stretched hands making it 3-0.

Maharashtra went all out to increase the tally with Steven  Dias on the right and Paresh Shivalkar on the left making penetrating runs through the flanks. Royston Dsouza in the 73rd min sent Paresh on the left with a through ball, beating the defender to score the 4th goal.

In the 78th min Vijith Shetty’s long ball behind the defenders saw Steven Dias breaking the off side trap to score the 5th goa, before young Royston dribbled past a host of defenders, his solo effort taking Maharashtra’s tally to 6-0.

MP reduced the margin by scoring in the 90th min.