Maharashtra blanks Karnataka 3-0 in Santosh Trophy

Gurgaon, Oct 15 (UNI) Last year's runners up Maharashtra struck thrice in the second session to blank Karnataka 3-0 in their group B quarterfinal league match of the 61st Santosh Trophy here today.

Adil Ansari (47th minute), Abhishek Yadav (64th) and Paresh Shivalkar (84th) scored the goals for the winners.

After a barren and uneventful first half and a further 10 minute delay due to power cut, Maharashtra took lead two minutes into the second half with an unmarked Ansari nodding the ball home off an Abhishek Yadav cross from the left.

Then a defensive lapse by Karnataka saw Ansari taking possession of the ball and his low cross beat the goalkeeper with an advancing Abhishek Yadav making no mistake in slotting it home (2-0).

Another defensive blunder resulted in the third goal when a long clearance from Maharashtra half reached Shivalkar who beat the off-side trap and lobbed it over the onrushing goalkeeper into the empty net.

Maharshtra coach Irenio Vaz said he was more than happy with the show by his team, considering it was their first match in the tournament.

''Still, we need to make some improvements in some areas, specially before we play Kerala. The midfield did well but our defence and attack need improvement,'' he said.

''We setlled down only in the second half and scored three goals in this session,'' he added.

UNI PDS AY RN2130