KOLKATA: Defending champions Goa begin their Santosh Trophy title defence on Thursday as they take on Karnakata in the first quarter-finals, here. In another match on the same day, Services play Punjab.

On Wednesday, Mizoram stunned Kerala 1-0 to advance into the last eight of Santosh Trophy by a second half goal from Bekhikhei at Yuba Bharati Krirangan, here.

East Bengal’s striker Bekhokhei’s right footed volley from a

right flank cross did all the magic in the 62nd minute against Kerala in the last pre-quarterfinal game to take Mizoram into the quarterfinal for the first time in 64th edition of senior national football championship.

The resurgent Northeast side, which surprised Indian Railways in the previous qualifying play when medio Lalrinfela scored the winner, had set date with five times winners Kerala.

A pre-match favourites, Kerala after conceding the goal tried their best, but wall erected by the Mizo defence was too tight to crack in the remaining 28 minutes.

Mizoram will now face another Southern state Tamil Nadu on July 30.

Kerala, a 12-time finalist, looked clueless after conceding

the goal and faltered every time when they moved for final killing.Kerala after an impressive win against Uttarakhand in their opening encounter, went on to hammer Himachal Pradesh 10-0 before giving some football lessons to Assam in their final group league encounter with a facile 5-2 victory to see them through to pre-quarterfinals.

Mizoram’s move to last eight was a saga with 1-3 down to Orissa, fought back brilliantly trouncing Bihar 10-0 before upsetting Railways by a solitary goal.

Mizoram’s some individual talents in the form of Churchill

Brothers winger Lalrinfela, F Lalrinpuia, East Bengal striker Beikhokhei and Dempo midfielder Jerry Zirsanga combining well to undo soccer giants Kerala for the first time.