Eight-time champion Punjab conceded the equaliser against five-time titlist Goa two minutes from time to finish the concluding quarterfinal Group B league match 1-1 and end its hopes in the 65th senior National football championship for the Santosh Trophy, here on Tuesday.
The drawn encounter, while ejecting both the fancied outfits, promoted modest Services to the semifinals for having the best statistics in a three-team tie.
Railways, which beat Services 2-1 earlier in the day, became the group topper with an all-win record (nine points) while the rest three in the group — Services, Goa and Punjab — remained winless and concluded their campaign with two points each.
With statistics coming into consideration, Goa was the first to be ejected with the worst goal difference (-3). Services and Punjab were tied again with equal (-1) goal difference before the former made it having scored more goals (six to Punjab's four).
In the match both Punjab and Goa faltered in their attack playing a goalless first session where the two shared an even number of misses.
The second session was livelier in comparison, with Goa enjoying the initiative. But Punjab found the break through substitute Harpreet Singh in the 78th minute against the run of play.
As Punjab eyed the road to the semifinals Goa hit back with the equaliser in the 88th through substitute Rowlin Borges.
Services will meet Manipur in the first semifinal on Thursday while Railways takes on holder Bengal in the other match on Friday.
Railways, meanwhile, maintained an all-win record beating Services 2-1.
Services went into the lead but squandered the initiative thereafter. Services had a greater share of ball possession as Railways, already having ensured the top position in the group with successive wins, took it easy resting four of its regulars.
Having found most of its goals in the tournament from set-piece situations, Services, however, missed two such opportunities in close succession. Gordon Zoramchanna — the Services' free-kick specialist — found his first attempt in the 17th minute saved by Railways custodian Ethesham Ahmed while the next one in the 20th minute flew over the crosspiece.
Opening goal
Mahesh Rai broke the deadlock in the 44th minute coming at the end of a concerted move through the left and found the Railways net meeting a measured cross from Arjun Tudu.
But Services' joy was short-lived as midfielder Subir Majhi fetched the equaliser in injury-time (45+1) finishing a corner variation that caught the Services defence off guard.
Railways continued to hold strong after the break though Services had a good opportunity to regain the lead in the 48th minute. Sochungmi Raleng, who joined Tudu in the Services attack, failed to find the net within yards from the goal after Tudu's first attempt rebound off Ahmed.
Striker A. Dhyanprakash found the decisive goal in the 58th minute off a solo effort to end Services hopes of its maiden win in the quarterfinals.
Final points table (Group B) read as Played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points: Railways 3-3-0-0-7-2-9; Services 3-0-2-1-6-7-2; Punjab 3-0-2-1-4-5-2; Goa 3-0-2-1-4-7-2.
