A hat-trick by Indian International Mohammed Rafi helped four-time champions Maharashtra register an emphatic 4-1 win over Jharkhand in a group B quarterfinal match of 67th Santosh Trophy Tournament at Lal Bahadur Sasthri stadium here on Friday. Rafi’s goals came in the 30th, 31st and 46th minutes.
Jharkhand took the lead in the fifth minute through Bosen Murmu when he connected Munirul Mistry’s well-aimed pass from the right flank. The goal deficit spurred Maharashtra to bounce back in style. In the 30th minute, Rafi thundered a right footer from the right after he was fed by Francisco Salin. And a minute later, Rafi and Salin once again came into the act. The goal was a prototype of the first one. Salin essayed in a neat pass to unmarked Rafi, who produced a well-polished pot shot to make it 2-1. F Lalrempuia scored the third in the 33rd minute, while Rafi found his treble in the 46th minute.
Other results: Tamil Nadu draw with Goa 0-0; Kerala beat Jammu and Kashmir 2-0; UP beat Haryana 2-1.