GUWAHATI: On a day of contrasting results Karnataka handed out a 10 defeat to holders Punjab while favorites Bengal expectedly thrashed Nagaland 50 in the quarterfinal league matches of the 45th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy at the Nehru Stadium here today.

Bengal who had won the title no less than 21 times and were leading 30 at the breather scored through Sisir Ghosh, Sandip Munshi, Mritunjoy Hazara, Satyajit Chatterjee and Jhantu Dey.

Earlier Karnataka despite being at the receiving end for most of the time defeated Punjab by a solitary goal. The Karnataka medio Thomas scored the all-important goal of the match in the second half.

Bengal who did not come up to expectations in their cluster matches at Silchar, looked in their elements today as the boys took a viselike grip over the match right from the word go.

‘The whole team functioned well Medio Bikash Panji was outstanding unsettling the ‘Nagaland defenders frequently with speedy bursts.

Panji received fine support from his midfielder colleague Satyajit Chatterjee and upcoming Shanty Dey, while winger Uttam Mukherjee was proving a constant headache for the rival defense.

On the other hand the Nagaland was mainly depending on their only international star C. Akum. Though Akum did manage to create some problems for the Bengal defense without any support from other colleagues he could not do anything worthwhile,

Playing with grit and determination Kamatka shocked holders Punjab in their opening Group B quarterfinal league.

The match played before an almost empty stadium saw Punjab dominating the first half of the game but they failed to pierce opens the tight Karnataka defense.

Punjab playing the 433 formation with skipper Narendra Gurung at the central midfielder position and another veteran Parminder Singh (Sr) as the right half took control of the midfield right from the beginning,

But they mainly concentrated on the right wing with most of the moves being initiated from the right side and left winger Narendra Kumar was often seen strolling casually on the left side.” Karnataka who had lost to Kerala in the semifinals last ‘year were mainly content defending their Citadel from the continuous Punjab on slaughter. Both their stoppers, Nlyas Pasha ‘and KhaleelurRahman and left back Rahmatullah foiled the Punjab moves confidently.

Punjab could have scored in the very third minute but a Narendra Guring floater from the left was baooned over by Narendra Kumar, However, the holders had their best chance of forging ahead in the 18th ‘minute when following a flag kick by Gurung striker Darbara Singh headed goal ‘ward but unfortunately the ball rebounded off the lower part.

Punjab effected a change in the second session with Satish Kumar coming in place of Jeet Singh Satish justifying the change, immediately created a move when he out in from the left and after dribbling past a defender lobbed the ball in front of the Karnatke goal but Avtar Singh shot over from close.

Karnataka, who had not had a clear look at the Punjab goal tll then shocked the holders with a sudden goal. They earned a throw in on the left side and from a long throw by Rahmatullah medio Thomas collected the ball on the top of the box and took a prompt left footer volley which caught the Punjab custodian Bibhas Saha unaware as the ball crashed into the roof of the net.

Encouraged by this sudden success Karnataka created another move the next moment when right winger Firoze sent a low cross but Manohar failed to head in for close.

Down by a goal, Punjab pressed hard for the equalizer but Kamataka defenders fought their heart out to deny them any success though they had a couple of close looks at the Karnataka goal.

‘The holders came very close to scoring in the 61st minute when following a free kick Parminder Singh took a pile driver but Karnataka keeper dived full length to his right to punch away the ball to safety.

In the dying moments of the play Darbara Singh chasing a loose ball, took an attempt at the goal from the left but the ball ‘went out after hitting the bar.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 7, 1989