Santosh Trophy

A DO OR DIE MATCH:Punjab Vs Karnataka

by March 26, 2018

Today we witnessed a Do-Or-Die match where the Northern state of Punjab faced the Southern Giants Karnataka in an exciting and action-thrilled  match live at the Sailen Manna Ground.Karnataka were  attacking from right to left while Punjab were operating  from  left to right.Punjab tried to a make space down the left flank in the initial moments of the game. Their tried their first crack in the third minute  in the form of captain Vignesh Gunashekhar and yet it was  blocked by the Punjab defenders.Punjab gave away a penalty kick with a foul on midfielder  Leon Augustine in the box in the fifth minute and in the very next minute there was a goal by forward Rajesh S who swooped right into the top corner.This gave a boost to Rajesh as he made constant runs down the right flank with a cross into the box in the eleventh minute  almost finding his man but was finally clears it to safety.
Punjab kept trying their long ball theory to look for a goal,but yet were being  stopped by the south defense.Forward Baltej was fouled in the fourteenth minute at the edge of the Karnataka box. It was a goal scoring opportunity for Punjab if they could  convert.There was an effective run from midfielder Parmjit Singh conceding a foul and a freekick from captain Sarbjit went flying outside in the fourteenth minute.
Midfielder Leon Augustine made brilliant solo runs and took  shots constantly  but the Punjab goalkeeper succeeded in saving the shot each time.There was a powerful shot by Captain Baljeet Singh which was powerful for the keeper to hold,leading to a fumble and yet was netted in by no.11 forward Jiten  Rawat safely.There was an injury scare for Punjab as forward  Baltej limped  out of the field to receive treatment.Punjab received another free-kick for right outside the box but was saved. A low driver this time but this time went straight at the Karnataka goalkeeper.There was excellent run which led to  assist by no.10 Jaskaranpreet Singh and was finished by Baltej in the twenty fourth minute.Karnataka restarted the game and tried to build from the back.Captain Sarbjit made sure all possible south side attacks were managed. A first yellow card for Karnataka as no.2 Sunil Kumar committed a rash tackle in the thirty fourth minute.
Almost a third goal for Punjab happened in the thirty sixth minute but Jaskaranpreet Singh missed the golden chance.South captain Vignesh with a crack yet in the thirty sixth minute deflected and was caught but the keeper.A shot from Rajesh S got a deflection and went  straight to the goalkeeper of Punjab.Another header in the box from Punjab but Karnataka shot stopper was  right on the mark this time to collect the ball.Karnataka continued with a series of square passes as they looked  hungry for an equalizer with constant attacks from forward Rajesh S.
Six minutes were  added giving chances to Karnataka to equalize.Karnataka were down the left flank  trying to enter but yet  again the strength of the Punjab defenders was  too much for the Karnataka forwards to handle till now.A fantastic run was made Leon Augustine by  down the right flank and a cross found forward  Rajesh S taking  an acrobatic shot at the woodwork but was  blocked by the Punjab defender in the forty seventh minute.
Forward Baltej continued to poach  with a shot on in the forty ninth minute and Goalkeeper Shainkhan saved it this time.Punjab were trying to come forward but Karnataka were  clearing the ball out of play as they did not want to take any second chances.Karnataka enjoyed the lion share of possession in the second half but were unable were  able to break the Punjab defence line to find an equaliser. Punjab were trying to build slowly but yet again a pass that was intercepted by Karnataka with an attack from the right flank led to winning a corner.
First substitution for Punjab was  no.18 Jaskaranpreet Singh replaced and Parmeet Jhutty was brought in. Leon Augustine made a run into the box and a cross found the Punjab defender again. Punjab tries to hit on the counter but a bad pass yet again.A shot from Karnataka No.11 Liton Shil and abut a fine save by Moses Anthony of Punjab to deny Karnataka the equaliser in the sixty ninth minute . A second substitution for Punjab as No. 5 Sukhjit Singh came on for No.10 Baltej Singh.Punjab only looking a shadow of their self from the first half in attack as they failed to build any concrete moves.Jitender Rawat received a  ball from a clearance by the north defender and Captain Sarbjit  ,leading to a crack at the shot that went flying above the woodwork.A Cooling Break in the seventy seventh minute

A  wonderful effort by forward Luton Shil  missed  the goal by an inch.Karnataka with a build up that upset the Punjab defence and a powerful shot was  beautifully saved by the Punjab goalkeeper. Karnataka played an array of hopeful balls into the box in order to find an attacker but with  not much success.A Yellow card for Shafeel PP from made matters worse for Karnataka in the dying moments of the match in the eighty fourth minute. A final change for Punjab Sukhjit Singh was  brought in, and midfielder Gurtej Singh out.In the final substitution for Karnataka saw No. 30 Shaik Muzeeb come in for No.9 Suresh Leon K who just took a freekick with no success and then found his out of the field.

Punjab won a DO OR DIE MATCH,and the tag goes to Karnataka as they face Mizoram next.

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