Riding on Arjun Tudu’s double strike, Services on Sunday retained the Santosh Trophy national football championships title defeating hosts Maharashtra 2-1 in the summit clash here.
Tudu scored twice in the space of 11 minutes (26th, 37th) to help Services clinch their fifth overall title. Mohammed Shabaz had given Maharashtra the lead in the 15th minute.
Services took away Rs 5 lakh for winning the tournament while Maharashtra got Rs 3 lakh.
It were Maharashtra who surged ahead in the 15th minute. Mervin Stephen sent a brilliant diagonal release from just outside the box.
Shabaz sneaked in between the two defenders, chested it down and blasted it into the Services net.
Services equalised 11 minutes later. Francis Zununtluanga set it up for Tudu, who made no mistake to place it to the right of a diving Owais Khan.
In the 37th minute, a defensive lapse inside the Maharashtra box presented Tudu a chance and from nowhere, he had goalkeeper Owais at his mercy. Typical of a poacher, Tudu guided it into the deep corner of the net.
