Agency
Nagpur: Defending champions Services on Sunday managed to enter the semi-finals after defeating Maharashtra by a solitary goal scored by Francis Zoununtluangn just minutes before the final whistle here.
In another league encounter, Mizoram prevailed over Jammu and Kashmir 4-1.
This is the third straight victory recorded by Services in the league. In earlier ties, they had defeated Jammu and Kashmir 1-0 and Railways 2-1.
Though Services enjoyed upper hand, Maharashtra goalkeeper Kishan Sulegai brought out some good saves and foiled their attempts to score.
After a goal-less first session, the game looked like ending in a goal-less draw when six minutes from close of play, Zoununtluangn headed home a rebound from the right upright when Vivek Kumar tried to score.
There was not time left for Maharashtra to equalise.
Maharashtra have already qualified in the last four.
In other match, Mizoram defeated Jammu and Kashmir 4-1.
Jammu & Kashmir wrested initiative through Farukh Chowdhary within five minutes of play.
But Mizoram not only wiped out the deficit but scored three more goals to seal the fate of Jammu and Kashmir for the day.
For Mizoram, K Lal Thanthanga scored the first goal in 4th minute while Malsawmfela scored second goal in the 59th minute.
The third goal came off Laldingngheta in 65th minute while Lalmunsanga rounded off the tally in the 85th minute (4-1).
Tomorrow’s fixtures: Goa vs Punjab and West Bengal v/s Tamil Nadu.(PTI)
