Did Karnataka Eliminate Hosts Chhattisgarh to Secure QF Spot in Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s NFC?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka secured a quarter-final spot with a 3-0 win.
- Abhiram scored a crucial goal to seal the victory.
- Chhattisgarh's elimination highlights the competitive nature of the tournament.
- The match underscored Karnataka's dominance in Group B.
- Tamil Nadu's overwhelming win against Andaman & Nicobar showcased their offensive power.
Narainpur, May 4 (NationPress) Karnataka has clinched their quarter-final position from Group B with a decisive 3-0 victory over the home team, Chhattisgarh, in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship this past Sunday.
With a flawless nine points accumulated from three matches, Karnataka sits proudly in the top position with one game still to play. Meanwhile, Gujarat, positioned second with six points from the same number of matches, cannot surpass the southern team, having previously succumbed to Karnataka in the tournament. Even if Gujarat secures a win against Chhattisgarh in their upcoming match, they would still trail Karnataka, who would maintain a superior head-to-head record.
The highlight of the match came when Abhiram scored in the 67th minute, deftly maneuvering behind the defense and sliding the ball through the legs of the Chhattisgarh goalkeeper to extend the score to three. This match effectively marked the end of Chhattisgarh's aspirations for a quarter-final berth.
In another match that day, Tamil Nadu triumphed over Andaman & Nicobar with an overwhelming score of 9-2. Despite the one-sided outcome, it was Andaman & Nicobar who struck first due to an own goal in the 28th minute, credited to Ajay Prabhakar A. Rooney Rose A quickly equalized for Tamil Nadu just four minutes later, but Anas Khan Pathan soon restored Andaman & Nicobar's lead.
However, Tamil Nadu swiftly regained control, with goals from Jershan Fernandez Justin, Dilliraj V, Santhosh S, and Leonardo Christy L putting them in a commanding position. Aswanth S then delivered an impressive eight-minute hat-trick, followed by Adam J L David netting the ninth in injury time.