Kolkata: V K Afdal's lone goal helped Kerala beat Mizoram 1-0 to set up a final date with West Bengal in the 72nd Santosh Trophy Championship, here on Friday.
Coming in as a substitute, Afdal broke the deadlock in the 54th minute. Even though Mizoram dominated in all departments of the game, lack of poor finishing kept them at bay.
Earlier, captain Jiten Murmu and Tirthankar Sarakar's second-half goals helped Bengal beat Karnataka 2-0 at the Howrah Maidan Stadium here.
Murmu broke the deadlock on the 57th minute while Sarakar made sure of a Bengal win in the second minute (90+2') of stoppage time, converting a free-kick that was won by the captain.
The Kerala team that stormed into the final beating Mizoram. Photos: Pratheesh G NairThe last time Bengal and Kerala faced off in the final was in 1993-94, with the former winning 5-3 on penalties in Cuttack, after the score was tied 2-2 at regulation time.
Kerala last won the title in 2004-05 when they defeated Punjab 3-2 in New Delhi while this is their first final appearance since 2012-13 when they lost to Services on penalties at home.
The final is slated at the Saltlake Stadium at 2.30 pm on April 1.
Kerala's only bright chance in the first half was Rahul K P's miss from the edge of the box on the volley.
Players of Kerala and Mizoram in action.Such incompetence in the first half prompted Balan to usher in striker Afdal V K for an ineffective Sajith Poulose just before the whistle.
That substitution paid immense dividends nine minutes after the change of ends. Collecting the ball from a diagonal pass, Jithin M S made a darting run from the right and cut in to dodge past two men.
Rahul K P shot from his square pass but keeper Laltanpuia Ralte parried it off. Afdal V K, unmarked took his chance and slotted the ball home to give Kerala the lead against the run of play.
Mizoram were without coach Lalsangzuala Hmar, who was serving a one-game suspension.
Given the nature of the tie, both sides started off cautiously. However, Mizoram showed much more promise especially Lalbiakhlua who managed to get the game going from the right flank.
Within ten minutes, Mizoram were winning all sorts of set-pieces but Lalnuntluanga's free-kick ricocheted off the wall and even Hming Thanmawia hit the ball over the bar in the ninth minute.
Lal Romawia could not add to his four goals in the tournament when he swivelled from around 17 yards as Midhun V made an outstretched save, diving to his right after the quarter hour mark.
Players of Kerala and Mizoram in action.Mizoram had a golden opportunity in the 33rd minute to get the lead but Romawia missed from closed range.
Lalrinpuia's shot forced Midhun to fist the ball out but the north-eastern side could not take advantage from the goalmouth melee.
