Goa, Maharashtra need draws to enter final

Goa, Maharashtra need draws to enter final
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JAN 12: Daman and Diu wasted umpteen chances before they settled for a 1-1 draw with lowly Rajasthan in a Group A tussle of the Western India Football Association West Zone (under-21) National football league at the Cooperage today.

In another encounter, Gujarat scored a comfortable 2-0 triumph over Madhya Pradesh in Group B. The highlight of the game was a brace by Naresh Chouhan.Rajasthan, who were thrashed 16-0 by Maharashtra in their opening game, are now out of the competition. Only a miracle can help Daman dislodge Maharashtra, who now require only a draw to go through. Goa are also well-placed on account of their superior goal difference after their 5-1 win over Madhya Pradesh in Pool B. They require a draw against Gujarat tomorrow for a berth in the final on Saturday.

The Daman-Rajasthan tie proved to be a comedy of errors. The manner in which the Daman forwards squandered sitters, evoked laughter from the sprinkle of spectators.

It was Rajasthan first who scored from a stray raid in stoppage time of the first session. Govind Sikligar's rising left-footed piledriver from the top of the box brooked no answer from Daman goalkeeper Damasio Nunes.

Daman restored parity in the 58th minute. Rajasthan stopper Tayyab Ali pushed well-placed Clive Noronha in the box from behind. The resultant penalty was converted by Jamuna Kherare who beat 'keeper Mehboob Khan with a rising shot that brushed the hands of the goalkeeper and lodged into the net.

Daman then beat the off-side trap laid by the Rajasthan defence nearly half a dozen times. But try as they did, the Daman forwards squandered one chance after the other before settling for a draw.