Date:10/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061060141900.htm

Sport - Football

Punjab trounces a listless Kerala

Amitabha Das Sharma

SRINAGAR: Defending champion Punjab played an inspired second session to trounce Kerala 5-0 in the concluding Group ‘A’ quarterfinal league match of the 62nd senior National football championship for the Santosh Trophy on Monday.

Services continued to excel as the most consistent side in the tournament scripting an all-win record by beating host Jammu and Kashmir 3-2 in another match of the same group. S. Raleng set himself up for the cap of the highest scorer of the tournament finding the target twice while his colleague upfront, Shaji D’Silva, accounted for the remaining one for Services.

Prolific scorer

Raleng has been the most prolific scorer so far with a tally of six goals including a hat-trick.

Services netted nine points from three successive wins and emerged on top of the group. Punjab came second with six points while Kerala (3) and J&K (0) crashed out of the tournament.

Punjab was pinned to its defence for a greater period of the first session with Kerala showing good skills in the quick-passing game.

However, Kerala’s efforts never translated into a goal as its attackers Asif Saheer and Javed O.K. fumbled in the striking zone. Saktar Singh opened the sluice gates for Punjab’s goal deluge in the 54th minute.

Baljit Sahni doubled Punjab’s lead in the 60th minute availing a cross from Baldeep Singh. Substitute Balraj Singh made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute.

Punjab continued pummelling a distraught Kerala as Balraj added another to his and the team’s tally in the 76th minute for 4-0. Baljit Sahni dealt Kerala the last blow in the 89th minute to make it the biggest win of the elite quarterfinal stage.

Points tally (quarterfinal league): Group A (Read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals in favour, goals against and points):

Services 3-3-0-0-8-3-9; Punjab 3-2-0-1-7-2-6; Kerala 3-1-0-2-3-9-3; J&K 3-0-0-3-3-7-0.