Punjab rallies to beat Karnataka

Out of my way! Punjab's Jitender Rawat, left, tries to get past Karnataka's P.P. Shafeel .  

Victorino’s hat-trick gives Goa big win over Odisha

Punjab came back from a goal down to beat Karnataka 2-1 in a Group B match at the Sailen Manna Stadium Howrah in the National football championship for the Santosh Trophy.

Goa sailed on Victorino Fernandes’ hat-trick to earn its first win of the tournament thrashing Odisha 6-1, in the other match of the same group.

Punjab’s win opened up the contest in the group, bringing it into contention for a semifinal slot alongside Mizoram and Karnataka. Mizoram still leads the group with nine points, while Punjab and Karnataka are tied second with six points.

The last round of the group on Wednesday, when Karnataka takes on Mizoram and Punjab meets Goa, will decide the teams that will progress to the next stage.

Punjab made a strong start making raids down the flanks, but Karnataka managed to hold off the assaults.

Karnataka found the scoring opportunity first, launching a speedy counter-attack in the seventh minute. Leon Augustine, one of the most prolific attackers in the Karnataka side, appeared to break through the defence when Sunny tackled him from behind forcing referee Crystal John to signal a penalty.

S. Rajesh made no mistake from the spot.

Eight-time champion Punjab tried to regroup and resumed its raids down the flanks. In one such assault, in the 18th minute, Baltej Singh was set up by a long trough-pass.

The striker timed a grounder from just outside the box, which Karnataka goalkeeper C.P. Shainkhan managed to block. Jitender Rawat, however, charged in from the left to make the most of the rebound.

Karnataka had a chance to regain the lead when midfielder Sukesh Leon made a good attempt only to see Punjab custodian Moses Anthony making a fine save.

Punjab took the decisive lead in the 26th minute when a mistake by a Karnataka defender allowed Baltej Singh to slot home a cross from Jaskaranpreet Singh.

The results: Punjab 2 (Jitender Rawat 18, Baltej Singh 26) bt Karnataka 1 (S. Rajesh 7-pen).

Goa 6 (Victorino Fernandes 15, 45+3, 54; Machroy Peixito 59, Shubert Pereira 71, Marcus Mascarenhas 85) bt Odisha 1 (Sunil Sardar 16).

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