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In a stellar display of skill and finesse, Maharashtra emerged triumphant in their third group game of the Santosh Trophy, overpowering Andhra Pradesh with a resounding 6-0 victory.
Coming into the match with the momentum of two previous wins, Maharashtra showcased their football prowess with a combination of sharp attacks and solid defense.
The scoring spree began early in the 14th minute when Pavan Mali, seizing the opportunity from a Johnson Mathews cross, netted a powerful header to give Maharashtra the lead. The pressure on Andhra Pradesh intensified when Nikhil Kadam was brought down inside the box, resulting in a penalty. Himanshu Patil calmly converted the penalty kick in the 25th minute, extending Maharashtra’s lead to 2-0 at halftime.
The second half witnessed a relentless Maharashtra side extending their dominance. Advait Shinde wasted no time, scoring early in the half with a clinical finish to make it 3-0. He doubled his tally in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a cutback from Johnson Mathew. Mathew, not content with assists, turned scorer with an Olympic Goal in the 66th minute, catching the Andhra keeper off guard and taking the score to 5-0.
As the final minutes approached, substitute Sanket Salokhe orchestrated a brilliant run, setting up Advait Shinde for his hat-trick and sealing Maharashtra’s commanding 6-0 victory. The win solidifies Maharashtra’s position at the top of Group F, having secured three wins in as many games.
