Arrows stun Minerva in I-League
Indian Arrows stunned defending champions Minerva Punjab FC 2-1 to notch-up their fifth win of the 12th I-League season and leapfrog to the seventh position on the points table, in Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday.
Goals from Rohit Danu in the first half and Rahim Ali in the second ensured that Moinuddin's 68th-minute strike for the Champions went in vain.
Rahim Ali was declared Hero of the Match, for scoring the second insurance goal for his team at Kalinga Stadium.
Irish coach Paul Munster's visiting side dominated possession in the first half but the Arrows had the better scoring opportunities.
One such opportunity was created by captain Amarjeet Kiyam in the 38th minute, when a long-range strike from him, thundered the crossbar and came back.
Under-16 youngster Rohit Danu was at hand to head home the rebound. This was the talented Danu's third goal of the league campaign.
The Arrows got off to a swift start in the second half, when Rahim Ali slotted the ball past keeper Arshdeep in the Minerva goal off a wonderful team move that was initiated by Rohit Danu.
A stunned Minerva then finally began to show some urgency and dominated both possession and play from here on end.
For all their troubles, substitute Moinuddin, in the 68th minute, scored a stunner of a goal, drilling in a powerful left-footer from the edge of the Arrows box, beating a hapless Prabhsukan Gill in goal.
There were some frayed tempers as Minerva pressed hard for the equaliser, but the Arrows were not to be denied.
Minerva boss Paul Munster was sent off after he kicked a ball down the touchline in frustration.
Karnataka humbles Andhra Pradesh in football tourney
Karnataka defeated Andhra Pradesh 5-0 in a Group A match of the South Zone qualifier of the 73rd Santosh Trophy football tournament at Bharathi stadium in Neyveli.
Andhra was given a reality check by Karnataka, after it had held a strong Tamil Nadu team 1-1 in its opening fixture on Sunday.
Though the scores indicate it to be a romp for Karnataka, the rivals put up a good fight though defensive lapses and inability to pierce the opponents penalty area proved costly.
The two teams went hard at each other in the first half hour of the game, before Leon Augustine broke through for Karnataka with a goal in the 32nd minute.
Andhra is out of the reckoning for qualification for the main rounds while host Tamil Nadu needs to beat Karnataka by a huge margin to top the group.
Only the group winners advance to the main rounds.
Defending champion Kerala is in Group B with Telangana, Puducherry and Services and was held to goalless draw in its opening match against Telangana.
