Luia’s hat-trick in Mizoram win

A sparkling hat-trick by striker L.V. Luia enabled Mizoram to beat Orissa 3-0 in a pool F match at Nehru Stadium. Luaia scored in the ninth, 16th and 77th minutes. Mizoram have topped the group with six points and on superior goal-difference over Punjab.

In pool F, mighty Punjab overcame Chandiarh beating them 2-0. The teams were locked goalless at the interval. On changing ends, Sarbjit Sharma struck both the goals in the 45th and 60th minute. Punjab also collected six points in two matches and are trailing Mizoram in goal difference.

In pool C at Thyagaraj complex, Tamil Nadu scored their first win when they defeated Haryana 4-1. Haryana went ahead in the sixth minute through Prem Singh. After the breather, Tamil Nadu struck four times through Y. Raja (45th), M. Maninkandan (53rd) and S. Nagalingam (in the 55th and 58th). Tamil Nadu have four points from two matches.

At Nehru Stadium in pool B, Madhya Pradesh routed Himachal Pradesh 5-0, after leading 2-0 at the interval. The scorers were Jitender Swami, Allafuddin, Vikas Mahadev, Ashish Pillai and Dhiraj Mathuria. M.P have four points from two matches while H.P. have lost both their matches.