Kolhapur stun defending champions to break Nagpur hearts

Nagpur: Raj Ali and Yaseen Nadaf scored two quick goals to guide Kolhapur to a 2-1 victory over hosts and defending champions Nagpur, emerging as the new Maharashtra state football champions in the inter-district tournament, which concluded at the Suyog Nagar stadium on Tuesday.
With an aggressive start, Kolhapur took control of the match as early as the 15th minute. Kolhapur forwards Ali and Nadaf each scored a goal within 11 minutes, putting Nagpur on the back foot. Ali found the net in the fourth minute, and Nadaf doubled the lead with his effort in the 15th minute.
With just three minutes remaining before the lemon break, star Nagpur forward Owais Ashraf reduced the lead by placing the ball to the far corner of the net in the 42nd minute. Kolhapur maintained a 2-1 advantage at the breather.
The change of ends saw a defensive approach by Kolhapur as the visitors defeated Nagpur 2-1 to emerge as the new state champions.
Earlier, in the bronze medal game, Mumbai blanked Pune 5-0. For the winners, Arafat Ansari scored a brace, while Zeeshan Akhtar, Shivam Yadav, and Mohammad Khatib each scored a goal.
Later, MLA Nitin Raut graced the final match as the chief guest. The WIFA and NDFA officials distributed the prizes.