Source: The Sangai Express
Chennai, June 05 2009:
Sanath Kumar and Dada Nabeel found the net as Karnataka tamed Maharashtra 2-0 in a quarter league match of the 63rd Santosh Trophy National Football Championship on Friday.
Forward Sanath gave Karnataka the lead in the 25th minute, before Nabeel doubled the score in the 67th minute to throw Maharashtra out of the semi-final contention.
With four points from two Group-B league outings, Karnataka have enhanced their chances of making it to the last four stage.
They had earlier drawn their first game against Goa.
Maharashtra, on the other hand, have lost both the league matches they have played so far and even a win in the final match against Goa on Sunday can't win them a place in the semi-finals.
They had lost to Services 0-1 in their opening league encounter.
Meanwhile, in the other Group-B match of the day, Goa defeated Services 1-0 .
Last year's runners-up Services started the game well but suffered a massive blow in the 11th minute when goalkeeper Ravikanta Singh was sent off after handling the ball outside the box.
Influential striker Raleng was sacrificed to bring on reserve goalie Sujan Suku.
Goa started dominating possession but couldn't make the most of their numerical advantages as they kept missing chances in the first half.
First, Mahesh Gawli's header was cleared off the line in the 20th minute and then couple of minutes later Wilton Gomes's shot was well saved by substitute Suku.
Marcus Mascarenhas also had a good chance to score from a Wilton Gomes cross but he was crowded out by Services defenders.
Just before the halftime whistle, Dempo skipper Climax Lawrence's freekick was well kept out by Sujan.
Mascarenhas had another good opportunity in the early stages of the second half but once again failed to convert it.
But Goa finally got their goal in the 56th minute when Climax Lawrence converted a Fulgancio Cardozo cross.
With this win Goa are level on points with Karnataka while Services have one point less and would require a win in their last game against Karnataka to qualify for the semis.