Mizoram on Saturday outplayed Punjab with a 2-1 win and virtually sealed a semi-final berth in the National Football Championship for the 72nd Santosh Trophy.
Mizoram now have three wins from as many matches to be on nine points to lead group B, followed by Karnataka, who have six points from two matches.
Lal Remruata drew the first blood off a rebound in the seventh minute of the game at Howrah stadium. Remruata struck his second in a couple of minutes. Jitender Rawat reduced the margin for Punjab in the 56th minute.
In another match played at Rabindra Sarovar Stadium, Karnataka beat Odisha by 2-1. Karnataka too remained in the hunt in the National Football Championship for the 72nd Santosh Trophy.
Karnataka drew the first blood through Leon Augustine in the 26th minute but Odisha restored parity in the first-half injury time with Arjun Naik’s sending the ball to net.
The second-half saw both teams fighting for a decisive goal and it was Rajesh S who scored the winner for Karnataka in the 87th minute.