Punjab, Railways score big victories

Defending champion Maharashtra and former champions Goa are in a spot of bother after Saturday's matches in the National football championship, for the Santosh Trophy.

Victories for Indian Railways, in Group C, and Punjab, in Group D, have ensured that Monday's final day of the quarter-final league matches will get super status.

On Saturday, at the Cooperage football ground, in Bombay, Railways, though lacking efficiency, proved too good for Services, winning 3-0, with goals from Kasif Jamal (31st, 85th) and Adil Ansari (87th). Importanly, they did not concede any goal and thus hold an upperhand when they take on defending champions Maharashtra on Monday.

Maharashtra had defeated Services 3-1 in an earlier Group C encounter and the one goal they conceded might prove to be just costly, as Railways will nose ahead in the event of a goalless draw.

Only full three points will see Maharashtra through to the semi-finals. Both Maharashtra and Railways are on three points, while Services completed their engagements without a point.

In the second match of the day, Punjab put themselves in the driver's seat with a thumping 4-0 win over Manipur. Both Punjab and Goa are on three points, but Goa had managed just a one-goal win over Manipur in their first match.

Manipur, the nursery of Indian football, impressed everybody but bowed without a point.

Despite some brilliant efforts from goalkeeper Jiten Singh, Punjab managed one goal in the first half and then added three more against their tiring rivals. Ram Pal got two (37th, 56th) while one each came from Hardeep Singh Saini (70th) and Gurjit Singh (82nd).

Goa (3 ponts) are now in a must-win situation against Punjab (3 points), who they take on on Monday. A simple draw is enough for Punjab to move into the semi-finals. Though nothing can be said what happens in a game, Goa winning over Punjab looks quite unlikely, especially after their mediocre show against Punjab.

Manipur had their moments in the match, especially in the first half but could not convert their chances. Ng Hmar had a try which went across the goalmouth and than a Manglemjao's shot was brilliantly saved by Punjab and JCT goalkeeper Arvind Kumar.

Manipur were down to 10 men in the 51st minute and that cut their chances of a fightback. Uttam Kumar had his second booking when he felled Hardeep Singh Saini from behind.

Services, like in their match against Maharashtra, did not give their rivals much space and quickly cut off all possible and dangerous moves. Irudaya Raj was a towering presence in the midfield with Anish Sharma, Ignatious and Amit Aich. And the Railways midfield, which had shown much fluidity in their pre-quarterfinal league matches, lacked cohesion.

It needed a penalty to start Railways' tally of goals. Midfielder Kasif Jamal was brought down by Ignatious and he himself converted from the spot of the resultant penalty.

It was quite smooth sailing thereafter for Railways, who chugged along well in the second half.

Services had but one chance in the entire match, when Saroj Gurung took two shots in succession only to see Satish Bharti and Adil Ansari making saves on the goalline.

Services lost the services of captain Amar Bahadur Thapa with three minutes remaining for time.

Sunday's matches: 1.45 pm: Kerala vs. Orissa; 3.45 pm: Bengal vs. Tamil Nadu

Photographs: Jewella C Miranda