Maharashtra stun holders Bengal in Santosh Trophy
18 May 2012 8:43 PM GMT
Double defending champions Bengal were stunned 1-2 by Maharashtra in their opening quarterfinal league Group A game of the 66th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy at the Barabati Stadium here today.
Approaching the match as clear favourites having won the last two editions of the tournament in Kolkata and Guwahati, Bengal received a rude shock in their tournament opener.
Maharashtra scored through Kailas Patel (20th minute) minute and L Machndo (70th) to go 2-0 up before Bengal reduced the margin through T Ahmed a minute later.
Bengal were seeded in the quarters, while Maharashtra made the grade by emerging champions from Cluster IV of the pre-quarterfinals, where they beat Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The format of the Santosh Trophy has been altered this year with four groups of four teams each at the quarterfinal stage, with only the group toppers progressing to the semifinals.
Approaching the match as clear favourites having won the last two editions of the tournament in Kolkata and Guwahati, Bengal received a rude shock in their tournament opener.
Maharashtra scored through Kailas Patel (20th minute) minute and L Machndo (70th) to go 2-0 up before Bengal reduced the margin through T Ahmed a minute later.
Bengal were seeded in the quarters, while Maharashtra made the grade by emerging champions from Cluster IV of the pre-quarterfinals, where they beat Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The format of the Santosh Trophy has been altered this year with four groups of four teams each at the quarterfinal stage, with only the group toppers progressing to the semifinals.
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