Defending champions Kerala started their campaign in the 58th National Football Championship for the LG Santosh Trophy 2002 with a hard fought 3-2 margin against West Bengal marred by unruly behavior and dissents against the match referee.

In group B match, Maharastra pulled-off a major coup to stun last edition's semi-finalist Railways, holding on to their first half solitary goal lead.

Testing each other's strength and weaknesses in the first session both Kerala and West Bengal began on a cautious note confining their exchanges at the middle in front of the thinly attended crowd.

The first breakthrough of the match came in the 20th minutes when a hard drive from the top of the box by Chandan Das hit the inner edge of the bar and thudded down to the ground.

With assistant referee L Gokulananda of Manipur signaling for the goal, match referee Rizwahul Haq of Delhi awarded the goal even though Kerala players hotly questioned the decision.

A swift move from the halfway line with perfect understanding between Asif Saheer T and Abdul Hakeem MA yielded the equalizer for the defending champions in the 31st minute.

Outsmarting Bengal defenders Y Priyokumar and Hossian Mustafi with quick one-touch passing, Abdul sent an accurate cross right into the opponent goalmouth to be headed in by Ignatius on the near post.

With Bengal needing just a win from the match to seal the semi-final berth, they began the second session with long range and high passes directed to Dipendu Biswas in the centre.

The towering Kerala defenders Binesh, Muhammad Shaeeq, Vinu Jose and Sameer marshaled their backyard seldom providing rooms to the Bengal forwards compelling them to adopt the hit and run techniques.

However, Kerala wrested the initiative increasing the tally with substitute Usman T setting up for Ignatius' second goal of the match in the 58th. Controlling a through pass by Suresh deep into the opponent goal area, Usman sent the ball across the mouth for the sprinting Ignatius to tap in effortlessly at the open net. Unable to digest the prospect of a defeat in the match that could spill Bengal's chances of a last four place, the match took an ugly turn when Anupam Sarkar brought down a Kerala player.

An infuriated Chandan Das contesting the yellow card to Anupam pushed and shoved the referee inviting the same treatment instantly.

Off the field, both coach and assistant coach of West Bengal rushed out from their benches to air their annoyance.

When fourth match official L Yaima tried to intervene, he was locked in a verbal duel by the assistant coach, who is also a well known former international player.

The assistant coach was also seen gesturing at the official when Bengal restored parity with substitute Sandip Das placing the ball neatly to the left of the Kerala custodian in the 79th.

Soon after, Kerala missed a chance to regain the lead when the diminutive Asif Zaheer failed to connect a grounder from the left by Ignatius.

Usman, later adjudged LG's Most Valuable Player of the match, nestled the ball high into the Bengal net with a strong header off an Ignatius cross from the left flank barely two minutes from end.

Usman also received Rs 500 from Science & Technology and Transport Minister Natum Singh.

After the final whistle also, fuming officials of West Bengal hurled abuses at the match officials. Bengal coach, manager and captain were suspiciously absent at the post-month media briefing.

On the other hand, Kerala coach besides, expressing satisfaction with his boy's performances informed that six new players have been included in the team that won the last championship.

Kerala will take on Assam to decide the winner of group A and a place in the semis. Assam had lost to Bengal in their first engagement by 1-2.

In second ground, Maharastra's match winner came in the 37th minute through Naushad Moosa off a corner kick by Mahato from the left corner. Moosa was also declared the Most Valuable Player of the Match. Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, N Mangi presenting the award also gave Rs 500 to the player.

The ball took a deflection from the Railways defender Satish Bharati and popped up inside the penalty area. Moosa moved in quickly to head home with goalkeeper out of position.

The remaining part of the match was marked by miss passes and inept shooting besides a send-off and a yellow card to the lone goal scorer Moosa.

Collecting the second bookable offence in the match, Railways' Satish Bharati received the marching order in the 87th minute.

Railways squandered an easy chance in the opening half with Satish Bharati unable to beat opponent goalkeeper from close range.

In the 67th minute, Maharastra's Stephen Dias missed the far post by inches with a swerving attempt from the left.

With today's win Maharastra is leading the group on 4 points. They drew against Services in their first quarter final outing.