Maharashtra capitalized on Goa's keeper's Wellyster Mendes' error to score a convincing 3-0 win and emerge West Zone Champion of the 36th Sub Junior National Football Championship, here today.
Maharashtra and Goa who finished first and second in the league stage have made it the final round of the Sub-Junior Coca-Cola Cup along with West Bengal, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Chandigarh and Haryana.
Goa who started off well as they held the ball possession and created ample scoring chances in the first half, but could not get past the rival keeper Pranesh Tambe who made some good saves to deny Boris Jesus De Mello from scoring at least on three occasion.
Maharashtra, who came with renewed ideas in the second half, took advantage of the home team keeper Mendes' folly as he needlessly came out of his charge and conceded two goals that ended Goa's Challenge.
First a move from the left saw Kamran Ansari send a cross into the box as Mendes came out and missed the ball and Aman Kuranapure colly slotted the ball into the net to put his team 1-0 up in the 59th minute.
Seven minutes latter, Mendes once again made a blunder to come of his charge to clear the ball when his defenders were infront of him but failed to get his hands to it and Aman Kurnapure, who got the ball, took a few steps before slotting the ball home.
Thereafter Goa came with sporadic raids and twice came close to scoring but rival keeper Tambe was at his best to put the ball out off Borris De Mello free kick.
Thereafter substitute Aniket Varekar rounded off the tally minutes before the final whistle after Kamran Ansari shot was blocked by a diving Goa's keeper Akshat.
