Malappuram (Kerala): Needing a draw to ensure a semifinal berth, Odisha came a cropper in their final Group B fixture of the Santosh Trophy here on Monday afternoon, conceding two late goals to lose 0-2 against Services.
Odisha, who finished their league engagements with 7 points from 4 matches, are still in second position — behind Manipur, who have qualified with 9 points.
Odisha’s hopes are not yet over, but their fate is in Karnataka’s hands.
Karnataka, who face bottom-rankers Gujarat in the last match of Group B this evening, can pip Odisha to the last-four stage if they win by a margin of three goals.
Karnataka, with 4 points till now, will finish with 7 –same as that of Odisha – if they beat Gujarat. It will then come down to goal difference between Odisha and Karnataka.
Odisha have finished with a goal difference of 0 – 7 scored, 7 conceded, whereas Karnataka’s goal difference stands at -2 (4 scored, 6 conceded).
For Karnataka to leapfrog Odisha into second place in the Group B standings, Karnataka have to win 3-0 – that is, by a three-goal margin.
Despite Services’ win over Odisha, they were eliminated from the tournament as they finished with 6 points.
