Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: It’s Karnataka vs Punjab in semis

It’s Karnataka vs Punjab in semis
================================================================================
SportsDesk on 10 June, 2008 11:57:14
 
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