Karnataka beat Puducherry 4-0 to post its second win in group-B of the South Zone Santosh trophy qualifiers at the Nehru Stadium on Friday.
The first 25 minutes was markedly bullish, the teams going at each other with all their might to force the issue. Karnataka was quicker. Anto Xavier’s strike helped it go 1-0 up.
Puducherry followed with sudden, vain forays for a while.
However, Karnataka doubled the lead via a set piece. Don Bosco’s free-kick was headed home by Anto.
Later, an own goal from Suman saw Karnataka secure a 3-0 lead at half-time.
It could have been worse for Puducherry. Sanju had been set up by a long ball from Arun Pandey from just inside the right top-half, but was beaten to it by the goalkeeper.
Puducherry needed a sudden spurt in the second half. That was not to be. Jaded, it only let Karnataka chance more, and the persistence fetched Karnataka a goal in the extra time.
In the second match of the day, Services scored two minutes from start to beat Andhra Pradesh 1-0 in what was its second straight win.
Services spread out better and connected with short passes; it was only sparingly that the long aerial route was resorted to.
Saturday’s match will see Tamil Nadu square up with Kerala. The former will need only a draw to get to the main draw while only a win will earn the latter qualification.
The results: Karnataka 4 (Anto Xavier 28, 36, S. Suman 40-OG, A. Don Bosco 94) bt Puducherry 0.
Services 1 (Arjun Tudu 2) bt Andhra Pradesh 0.
