Santosh Trophy: Dominant Punjab thrash Rajasthan to secure first win

Malappuram
Adominant Punjab ran riot against Rajasthan, thrashing them 4-0 in the Group A clash of the 75th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy at the Kottapadi Stadium in Malappuram here on Wednesday. Three second-half strikes which included a brace from substitute Tarun Slathia meant Punjab picked up their first win of the tournament.
Rajasthan made the brighter start of the two. Amit Godara’s attempt from outside the box in the second minute was saved by a diving Harpreet Singh. The corner led to another attempt from outside the box, this time from youngster Sahil Khan, but the goalkeeper once again thwarted the attempt. Those two quick fire attempts woke up the Punjab players who then went on to boss the remainder of the first-half. Their first chance fell to Manvir Singh who drifted in from the left. A chipped pass was expertly controlled by the winger but brave goalkeeping from Rajasthan’s Gajraj Singh ensured it remained goalless.
Both the Punjab wingers kept cutting in from the flanks, which made it difficult for the Rajasthan players to mark them. Amarpreet Singh cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful left-footer from just outside the box. Gajraj Singh was left rooted to the spot and he was a relieved man as the ball went narrowly wide of the goal. With Rajasthan dropping deeper and deeper, it was becoming difficult for Punjab to play the killer through ball. So the players in yellow resorted to taking shots from deep. Jaginder Singh’s rasping drive was parried to safety by a full stretch Gajraj. The ball dropped just in front of him which made it awkward for the goalie to save.