RIDING on Afreen Peerbhoy's winner, Maharashtra defeated Kerala 1-0 in a crucial Group-II league match to register their third successive victory (in as many games) of the Hero 27th Senior Women's National Football Championship at the IGIS Complex, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, on Sunday. Afreen scored from a free-kick in the first minute of additional time of the first half. 

Afreen, 23, who plays as the central defender, told www.mid-day.com that though the team need four points to qualify for the quarter-finals from the two remaining games (April 5 v Uttarakhand and v Chandigarh on April 8) in the league stage, the Sanaya Anklesaria-coached Maharashtra aim to win both ties. Hosts Uttarakhand are in fourth position with four points.