Big victories on opening day

Former champions Services began their campaign in the Santosh Trophy National football championship with a thunping 11-0 victory over Rajasthan, in Cluster I, at the University stadium, in Bombay, on Thursday.

The opening day of the 58th edition of the tournament saw more big victories, with Karnataka routing Jammu and Kashmir 7-1; Manipur doing likewise against Himachal Pradesh while winning 7-0 and Madhya Pradesh beating Pondicherry 4-1.

Three goals each by V K Mishra and Sajith Kumar was the highlight of Services' easy victory. The 1960/61 champions, who led 7-0 at the breather, got their other goals throug Saroj Gurung (2), Irudaya Raj, Samingthang and Amit Aich.

In the other match at the same venue, a young Manipur side displayed some good football to toy with a bigger built Himachal Pradesh.

Nilakumar Singh and Stephen Hmar worked hard for Manipur upfront and broke the ice in the 16th minute. The former floated in a cross from the right for Stephen to head home. Three minutes later, Nilakumar got his name on the scoresheet, finishing on a cross from Stephen.

In the 29th minute, Dharam Singh was brought down in the penalty area by Neeraj Kumar and off the ensuing penalty-kick, he neatly placed to the left of the goalkeeper Narendra Kumar to put Manipur up 3-0. Nilakumar made it 4-0 in the 40th minute.

After the change of ends, play was restricted to the HP half. Substitute Tiken Singh made it 5-0, heading home a throw-in from Uttamkumar Singh in the 66th minute. Six minutes later, another substitue, Rohen Singh, found the net with a scorching shot before Kiken Singh could complete the rout in the 79th minute.

Manipur coach Shanti Kumar Singh expressed satisfaction with the easy, saying there's a lot more to come from his young side, which had won the junior national title in 1999 and 2001.

"This team has boys around the age of 20-21 years . I am sure they will come uo with a good showing and also cause a few upsets," he said.

At the Cooperage, Karnataka showed they'll be a team to reckon with as they easily disposed off J&K in a Cluster 6 match. They hammered in five goals without reply before the breather and then relaxed.

Midfielder Xavier Vijay Kumar opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Winger Sheikh Sanjeeb made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute, scoring off a beautiful pass from right-winger Dayanand, who went on to score Karnataka's third goal four minutes later following a free-kick. Three minutes from the breather, Vijay Kumar scored his second goal before Rajendra Prasad could make it 5-0 almost at the half-time whistle.

Immediately on resumption, J & K were awarded a penalty after winger Rasheed Sofi was brought down by Karanataka defender Dhanesh. Striker Deepak Sagral made no from the spot.

Karanataka substitute Gopi and S Sunil then scored in the 80th and 85th minutes respectively to complete the rout.