Santosh Trophy: Manipur crush holders Services, Odisha hold Karnataka in high-scoring thriller

Manipur crushed reigning champions Services 3-0 in the Santosh Trophy at Manjeri in Malappuram on Sunday.

Ngariyanbam Jenish Singh opened the scoring in the 5th minute for Manipur while the holders failed to capitalise on a chance two minutes later.

Manipur doubled their lead from a corner shortly after the second half began. Lunminlen scored from a header.

Services' Malayali player Sunil B turned in an own goal in the final quarter of the match as the holders made a poor start to their title defence.

Earlier, Odisha and Karnataka played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Kottappadi Stadium.

Santosh Trophy pic — Action between Odisha (blue) and Karnataka in the Santosh Trophy in Malappuram on Sunday. Photo: Special arrangement

Striker Sudheer Kotikela scored a brace for Karnataka while their Malayali forward Bavu Nishad netted one.

Odisha had taken the lead through Jamir Oram in the 15th minute before Karnataka scored twice to go into the break leading 2-1.

Sudheer's stike in the 62nd minute had made it 3-1 for Karnataka before Odisha hit twice to level the match and take a point.

Scores: Manipur 3 (Ngariyanbam 5, Lunminlen 50, Sunil B 73 (og)) bt Services 0; Odisha 3 (Jamir Oram 15, Bikash Kumar Sahoo 65, Chandra Muduli 76) drew with Karnataka 3 (Sudheer Kotikela 29, 62, Bavu Nishad 34)

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