Defending champions Kerala defeated last year's runner-up Punjab 2-1 in the third place play-off in the Air India Express National Football Championship, for the Santosh Trophy, at the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium in Kochi on Sunday.
Hardworking Pradeep put Kerala ahead in the 62nd minute, while defender Narinder Singh scored the equaliser for Punjab in the 77th. Diminutive Asif Saheer scored the winning goal in the 78th minute.
Kerala dominated the proceedings and could have won by a much bigger margin had their strikers been on target.
Credit should be given to Punjab goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, who brought of at least half a dozen chances.
Goa will meet Maharashtra in the final on Monday.
