Services, Manipur to conflict in National Games soccer last

Services defender Zothanpuia (No. 5, left) plucks the ball away from Kerala ahead M.A. Suhail within the males’s soccer semifinal of the National Games in Fatorda on Monday. Photo: Special association
| Photo Credit: Special association

Services and Manipur posted contrasting wins and entered the boys’s soccer last of the 37^th National Games right here on Monday. The last can be performed on Wednesday.

Services defeated Kerala 4-2 whereas Manipur beat Punjab 2-1 within the semifinals.

Nijo Gilbert, who scored off a penalty, gave Kerala the lead within the twenty seventh minute. But Services equalised by means of Rahul Ramakrishnan early within the second half and Christopher Kemei and Bikash Thapa added two extra. In between, G. Sanju G diminished the margin for Kerala.

In the opposite semifinal, Manipur raced to a 2-0 lead at half time with targets from Phijam Sanathoi Metei and Leimajam Sangkar Singh however Punjab, which scored by means of Abhishek Rattu, made it tight within the second half.