Maharashtra thrash Gujarat

Maharashtra scored a convincing 6-2 victory over Gujarat in the 70th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy West Zone Qualifiers.
Gujarat team with Abhishek Tripathi and Brajesh Yadav held the defence line intact for the first 20 minutes of play with some good saves by Shubam Chauhan and Maharashtra had a hard time to get through the backline.
Maharashtra finally broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a goal by Raynier Fernandes. Hardly had Gujarat recovered by the goal against the run of play that Maharashtra pumped in another quick goal in the 22nd min with Mervin Stephen getting the better of the Gujarat goalkeeper.

Gujarat tried to regroup but Maharashtra was too strong with striker Abhishek Ambekar scoring the 3rd goal in the 39th Min of play. Mohd Shahabaz Pathan added the 4th in the 45th + 2 minute and Abhishek Ambekar got his brace in the 45th + 3 minutes as Maharashtra had a commanding 5-0 lead at half time.
Gujarat entered the second half with more determination and kept Maharashtra strikers at bay. Gujarat pulled one goal back with Aamir Khan Pathan finding the back of the net in the 66th minute of play.
But Mohd Shahabaz Pathan put Maharashtra up 6-1 with a fine goal in the 76th minute. Mandeep Singh Barad got a consolation goal for Gujarat in the 78th minute.