Kerala made a winning start to their Santosh Trophy final round with a 4-3 win over Goa in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Goan striker Nigel Fernandes had stunned Kerala with a goal in the second minute. But Biby Thomas's Kerala bounced back in style, taking a 3-1 lead at the end of the first half.

Muhammad Riyas PT, Muhammad Ajsal and Naseeb Rahman were on the scoresheet inside the first 33 minutes. Christy Davis made it 4-1 in the 69th minute to virtually seal victory. 

However, Goa staged a brilliant comeback, through substitute Shubert Joanus Pereira, who netted a brace (78, 86) to make the closing moments tense. Kerala managed to hold on to the narrow advantage.

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Result: Kerala (Muhammed Riyas PT 16, Muhammad Ajsal 27, Naseeb Rahman 33, Christy Davis 69) bt Goa 3 (Nigel Fernandes 2, Shubert Joanus 78, 86)

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