Kerala midfielder Jithin Gopalakrishnan, centre, who scored two objectives, tries to shake off his markers within the Santosh Trophy Group ‘A’ match in opposition to Jammu and Kashmir in Benaulim, Goa on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Special association
Midfielder Jithin Gopalakrishnan scored twice as Kerala crushed Jammu and Kashmir 6-1 for its second win within the Group ‘A’ league of the 77th Santosh Trophy National soccer championship on the SAG Benaulim Ground right here on Friday.
Kerala, which blanked Gujarat 3-0 in its opener on Wednesday, is now on prime of the five-team group with six factors from two wins. Former champion Kerala meets Chhattisgarh subsequent on October 15.
Meanwhile, host Goa, which beat Chhattisgarh 1-0 in its opener earlier, was compelled to a 1-1 draw by Gujarat in one other Group ‘A’ match on Friday. That consequence ought to now make Kerala a favorite to prime the highest.
The group topper will robotically qualify for the 12-team fundamental section which can be held in Arunachal Pradesh later this 12 months. Three of the perfect second-placed groups from the six teams may also enter the ultimate section and becoming a member of them can be defending champion Karnataka, final version’s runner-up Meghalaya and host Arunachal Pradesh.
The outcomes: Kerala 6 (Jithin Gopalakrishnan 8 & 55; E. Sajeesh 14, Muhammed Ashiq Shoukathali 45+1, Ok. Abdu Raheem 67, Riswanali Edakkavil 74) bt Jammu & Kashmir 1 (Faizal Maqsood Thakur 61).
Goa 1 (Jobern Cardozo 90+9) drew with Gujarat 1 (Chunsaba Bariam 58).
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
