Goa mounts epic comeback against Manipur to secure Santosh Trophy final berth
GUWAHATI: In a thrilling semi-final clash, Goa staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Manipur 2-1 in extra time, securing their 14th appearance in the Santosh Trophy final.
Despite Ngangbam Pacha Singh giving Manipur the lead in the 18th minute, Necio Maristo Fernandes (90+6', 116') scored twice to propel Goa into the final showdown, where they will face Services, who triumphed over Mizoram with a score of 2-1.
The match began with high intensity, as both teams created several scoring opportunities in the early stages.
Within the first 10 minutes, Goa's Lloyd Cardozo and Manipur's Sanathoi Meetei had chances to break the deadlock, but were unable to find the target.
However, Manipur seized the initiative and broke through Goa's defense, with Pacha Singh unleashing a powerful shot from 30 yards to give his team the lead.
Despite trailing, Goa refused to concede defeat and launched a spirited comeback in the second half.
In the dying moments of regular time, Fernandes displayed acrobatic skill to volley home the equalizer, sending the game into extra time.
In the additional period, Manipur pressed forward aggressively, while Goa looked to capitalize on counterattacks.
With just four minutes remaining, Fernandes struck again, capitalizing on a rebound to put Goa ahead.
The dramatic turn of events led to heated exchanges, resulting in red cards for Manipur's head coach Thangjam Saran Singh, a team staff member, and substitute Sushilkumar Singh. Ultimately, Goa's resilience and Fernandes' heroics secured their place in the final, setting up an exciting showdown against Services as they vie for the Santosh Trophy title.