Goa, Karnataka enter semi-finals

Last year's finalists Goa and hosts Karnataka played out a goalless draw and advanced into the semi-finals from Group II in the Under 21 National football championship in Mandya, Karnataka, on Sunday.

Both the teams remained unbeaten in the four-team league and collected five points apiece. But Goa topped the table with a better goal difference of plus three as against plus one of Karnataka.

Earlier, Services rounded off their league campaign with a facile 5-2 victory over Manipur to finish third with four points. Manipur, with just one point, finished at the bottom of the table.

As a draw would suffice for them to qualify, Goa and Karnataka played at a relaxed pace and the match turned out to be a drab affair though both teams missed a couple of chances.

Abhijit failed to convert a pass from Kanickaraj in the 26th minute for the hosts, and later, for Goa, Savio Mascarenhas fumbled a golden opportunity which came in the form of a penalty, following an obstruction caused by Vinod on Savio.

Before half-time, Akshay Das wasted another chance for Goa, heading the ball over the crossbar.