Santosh Trophy qualifier: Super-sub Ajsal helps error-prone Kerala edge Railways
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Kerala made a winning start to their Santosh Trophy Group H qualifiers by edging Railways 1-0 at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode on Wednesday.
Substitute Muhammad Ajsal scored the solitary goal in the 71st minute. Nijo Gilbert provided the assist for the goal that came from a Railways giveaway.
Though this was just the first day of the three-round qualifier, Kerala-Railways battle was billed as the potential group-winner-decider. After Pondicherry edged Lakshadweep 3-2 in the group opener earlier on the day, pressure was on Kerala to get off to a flying start.
However, the Kerala that turned up was far from the adventurous unit it made up on paper. The likes of Gani Ahmed and Nijo Gilbert could not replicate their splendid form from the Super League Kerala. Coach Biby Thomas Muttath had prepared a caution-first approach with the full-backs seldom making overlaps or forward runs for that matter.
Gani and the forward trio, also comprising Shijin T and Salman Kalliyath, was made to do the heavy lifting.
Luck played a significant part in Kerala's win as Manoj M was required to make a goal-line clearance off Sufiyan Sheikh. Had the Railways striker been more convincing with his effort, the Kerala defender's sliding effort would not have mattered. Manoj had also thwarted a Kamalesh attempt earlier in the first half, while Christy Davis so nearly let Sheikh through on goal with a poor first touch. Kerala's Hajmal had been the busier of the goalkeepers and his acrobatic effort to keep out Johnson Joseph Mathews from range was just one of the many notable saves on the night.
Kerala missed a few chances in the dyinng moments with Ajsal firing wide. It was anything but spectacular, but Kerala have managed to get their noses in front in the points table. Kerala have won the championships seven times, with the last win coming in 2021-22 at Manjeri in Malappuram.