Sloppy Karnataka go down to Punjab

Football Santosh Trophy

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.

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.
Premkumar put Punjab in front in the 11th minute and swelled the lead four minutes later.

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.

Defending champions Services entered the semifinals after defeating Odisha 2-0 in their
Group ‘A’ quarterfinal league match. Services entered the semifinals on the basis of superior goal difference.

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.

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.