In a one-sided inaugural pre-quarterfinal match, Karnataka thrashed Nagaland by 5-0 goals in the 66th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Kalinga Stadium here on Friday. Ngurneilal of Karnataka started the party in the 30th minute. After the change of sides, Gopi P doubled the lead in the 55th minute, just after ten minutes Pondlan netted the third goal and team ahead with 3-0.
Prakash’s header beat the Nagaland custodian in the 79th minute and made an impossible target for the opponent. Finally Gopi nailed the final goal in the 85th minute and the team beat Nagaland 5-0. In another match, Uttar Pradesh defeated Bihar by 1-0 goal. After the barren first half, Budhuram Soren scored the all important goal in the 78th minute of the play. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Badri Narayan Patra inaugurated the meet at Kalinga Stadium. Among others OCA honoray secretary Asirbad Behera, Souray Ranjan Parija, Naba Ranjan Patnaik, Ashok Mohanty were present. Football Association of Odisha announced a 20 member football team for the Santosh trophy.
The team would be lead by Basant Kumar Swain. Odisha team: Ramesh Chandra Nayak, Manoj Kumar Das (Angul), Saroj Pradhan (Vice-Captain), Hrushikesh Behera, Sk. Shabaz Alam , Susant Jena, Sk Zaheed,Rajak Nag (all Cuttack), Blacky Lakra , Jayjeet Mohanty, Maheswar Das (all East Cost Railway), Kedar Singh, Basant Kumar Swain (Captain), Sanjit Panna,( Bhubaneswar),Sanatan Lahor , Santosh Nayak (both Phulbani), Shasi Toppa Rupei Hansda,Antu Murmu (both Sundargarh), Gokul Oram (Sambalpur)
