Santosh Trophy: Lijo scores four as Tamil Nadu thump Andhra 8-0

CHENNAI: In-form forward K Lijo netted four goals as Tamil Nadu ended the Santosh Trophy group stage with a 100 per cent record after a thumping 8-0 win over Andhra Pradesh in their final pool match in Anantapur on Tuesday.

TN, having already sealed qualification to the final round, finished as the Group G toppers with nine points from three games. Lijo, who had struck three goals in the last two matches, extended his purple patch – he opened the scoring in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time before rippling the net thrice in 14 minutes in the second period (56th, 60th and 69th).

Nandha Kumar Ananthraj (48th and 80th) bagged a brace, while Henry Joseph Emmanuel (70th) and A Regan (90+1) also joined the TN party in the lop-sided contest.

Lijo, the star of the show, said that his recent stint at Super League Kerala club Forca Kochi FC did him a world of good ahead of the Santosh Trophy. “I played with Chennaiyin FC star Raphael Augusto there. The work I did and things I learnt at Forca Kochi are helping me here. I joined the TN team immediately after the Kerala league, so it was easy for me,” Lijo, who began his journey at the St Lucia Sports Club in Erayumanthurai, Kanyakumari, told TOI.

“I am a striker and my job is to help the team win, whether it is via goals or other actions. I have to perform my role well. I have scored seven goals so far and my performances will give me a lot of confidence heading into the final round,” Lijo added.

Lijo also said that TN’s progression to the next round is extra special, considering the lack of preparation in the lead-up to the tournament. “It is tough to perform when you have trained together only for a short period of time. The coach (Nallappan Mohanraj) made us understand what is expected of us. I am happy that we made the cut in the end.”