<p>Riding on a brace from Premkumar, Punjab outclassed a lacklustre Karnataka 2-0 to enter the semifinals of the 67th Santosh Trophy national football tournament here on Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With three straight wins, Punjab secured nine points paving their way to the semis. Punjab had beaten Manipur 3-0 and West Bengal 4-3 in their quarterfinal league matches.<br />Premkumar put Punjab in front in the 11th minute and swelled the lead four minutes later.<br /><br />In the other quarterfinal match, West Bengal overcame Manipur 4-2 with strikes from Jagannath Sana (4th minute), Nabim Hela (17th), Snehasis Dutta (57th) and Dipendu Biswas (90th). Manipur reduced the margin through Meitei in the 80th and 92nd minutes. <br /><br />Defending champions Services entered the semifinals after defeating Odisha 2-0 in their <br />Group ‘A’ quarterfinal league match. Services entered the semifinals on the basis of superior goal difference.<br /><br />The first goal was scored in the first-half injury time by L Mawia, while the second goal for Services came in the 71st minute through V V Farhad.<br /><br />In another Group ‘A’ match, Railways routed Madhya Pradesh 5-0. Subra Narzary scored the first goal for Railways in the 20th minute while S K Mustakin struck the second in the 50th. P C Riju (59th), Amrinder Singh (71st minute) and Balraj Singh (90+) rounded off the tally.<br /></p>
<p>Riding on a brace from Premkumar, Punjab outclassed a lacklustre Karnataka 2-0 to enter the semifinals of the 67th Santosh Trophy national football tournament here on Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With three straight wins, Punjab secured nine points paving their way to the semis. Punjab had beaten Manipur 3-0 and West Bengal 4-3 in their quarterfinal league matches.<br />Premkumar put Punjab in front in the 11th minute and swelled the lead four minutes later.<br /><br />In the other quarterfinal match, West Bengal overcame Manipur 4-2 with strikes from Jagannath Sana (4th minute), Nabim Hela (17th), Snehasis Dutta (57th) and Dipendu Biswas (90th). Manipur reduced the margin through Meitei in the 80th and 92nd minutes. <br /><br />Defending champions Services entered the semifinals after defeating Odisha 2-0 in their <br />Group ‘A’ quarterfinal league match. Services entered the semifinals on the basis of superior goal difference.<br /><br />The first goal was scored in the first-half injury time by L Mawia, while the second goal for Services came in the 71st minute through V V Farhad.<br /><br />In another Group ‘A’ match, Railways routed Madhya Pradesh 5-0. Subra Narzary scored the first goal for Railways in the 20th minute while S K Mustakin struck the second in the 50th. P C Riju (59th), Amrinder Singh (71st minute) and Balraj Singh (90+) rounded off the tally.<br /></p>