Siddharth rana

National Football Championship: Former winner Manipur climbed to the top of Group B in the Final Round of the National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2024, after beating defending champions Karnataka 1-0 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium, here on Monday.

The side from the Northeast has now collected seven points from their three games, and are three points clear atop Group B. Ngangbam Pacha Singh scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 50th minute. While Manipur held more possession of the ball, Karnataka looked to work the ball out wide and create an overload in the box for the crosses.

However, it was the former who thought they had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Kabiraj Singh chipped a through ball to seasoned campaigner Singam Subash Singh, who slipped the ball past the Karnataka keeper to put the ball in the net. However, the assistant referee flagged him offside; replays suggested that he was ahead of the Manipur defence by a shoulder. Karnataka had their best chance just ahead of the half-time break when Godwin Johnson sent in a cross from the right to an unmarked Vishal R inside the box. The midfielder produced a powerful header from inside the six-yard box, but it was close to Manipur custodian Siddharth Rana, who produced a reflex diving save.