It’s Karnataka vs Punjab in semis

Srinagar: Last year’s finalists West Bengal drew 1-1 with Maharashtra, while Karnataka edged past Goa by a solitary goal to grab the last two semifinal berths of the 62nd Santosh Trophy National Football Championship here on Tuesday.

In the first match of the day, skipper Xavier Vijaykumar scored the all-important goal in the 53rd minute to secure Karnataka’s place in the last four stage of the tournament.

In the other match, Soccer Velho put Maharashtra ahead before Bengal skipper Jayanta Sen came up with the equaliser which was enough to send the side to the semifinals.

Karnataka finished at the top of Group B while a draw was enough for Bengal to see them through, finishing runners-up in the group.

The match was inconsequential for Maharashtra as they were already out of the reckoning for semifinal after having lost their opening two matches in the quarterfinal league.

Bengal will now take on Services in the first semifinal on Thursday while Karnataka will be up against defending champions Punjab in the other last four match on Friday. In the match between Bengal and Maharashtra, it was the latter who started the proceedings scoring in the first half through Velho, who slotted home a powerful shot past Bengal’s Somnath Khara. — PTI