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Kerala holds Haryana

Shailender Singh Negi’s 40-yard shot hit the cross bar
Sujith scored for Kerala

Margao: Kerala fought back well in the second half to hold Haryana to a 1-1 draw and split points in the quarterfinal league of the 18th under-21 National football championship for the Dutta Ray Trophy here on Thursday.

Both teams started at a fast pace but failed to penetrate into each other’s half as the defence gave nothing away.

Kerala, which played with short passes to break the rival defence, had the first chance to forge ahead but Sujith’s weak low shot was put out by Haryana custodian Pradeep Kumar.

Haryana, which gave more thrust in attack, broke the shackles in the 23rd minute.

Khangender Kant sent a cross into the box from the right which the rival goalkeeper Irfan Mohammed unnecessarily charged out to intercept but failed only to allow Shyam Sunder to head the ball into the net.

Seven minutes later, Haryana could have increased the lead, but Shailender Singh Negi’s 40-yard shot hit the cross bar. The change of ends saw Kerala gradually taking charge of the proceedings as it made a couple of forays and nearly equalised in the 52nd minute. But Mishra Welwet directed his low shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Kumar off a cross from S. Sabir.

However, Kerala kept up the pressure and found the equaliser 10 minutes later. Sabir floated the ball for Sujith to tap in from close following a flag-kick. — PTI

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