Punjab scored a goal in each half to blank Assam 2-0 in a Group-B league match of the 70thNational Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy, conducted by WIFA under the auspices of AIFF, hosted by NDFA and played at the University Stadium, Nagpur, on Saturday.
The sturdy Punjab outfit took an early lead when Vijay Kumar found the net in the 11th minute before Pawan Kumar Tiwari added the second in the 76th minute to secure the win for the northern side. Vijay Kumar was later adjudged ‘Man-of-the-match.’
In the other group match, played at the SEC Railway ground, Goa and Tamil Nadu shared the spoils as they were engaged in a tense goalless draw.
Goa now has seven points from two wins and a draw, while Tamil Nadu has four points from two games. The Goans have one game remaining against Punjab on Monday. On the other hand Tamil Nadu plays against West Bengal and Punjab in the next rounds.
The Punjab side, who, had earlier lost to West Bengal, has three points from today’s win and have two games remaining against Tamil Nadu and Goa. West Bengal also has three points and two games remaining with Tamil Nadu and Assam. The Assam team has lost all three games.
Results –Pool-B: Punjab 2 (Vijay Kumar 11th, Pawan Kumar Tiwari 76th) beat Assam 0.
Goa 0 drew with Tamil Nadu 0.