Backed by a packed and vociferous Khuman Lampak Main stadium crowd, Manipur shook-off a shaky first half to overpower spirited Orissa in their first group D quarter-final match.

Bijen Singh found the net twice in the match today to overtake Dipendu Biswas as the leading scorer of the tournament with nine goals. In another match Karnataka blanked Punjab 2-0.

Bijen stretched out to connect a Tiken Singh pass sent across the goal-mouth from the right for the first Manipur goal in the 9th minute bringing the drumming and cymbal clanging crowd to their feet with a deafening noise.

Minutes later, L James Singh's swerving free-kick 30 yards out was collected by the Orissa goalkeeper Singu Marandi climbing to his left.

Moments after Mahesh Raudia replaced Dhanga Salai Borda Orissa leveled score with the former sending a precisely measured lob from the left to beat the opponent custodian H Noren Singh on the far post in the 36th minute.

While a section of the boisterous crowd numbering more than 20 thousand was silenced others applauded the brilliance of Raudia which also was the first goal conceded by Manipur in the tournament so far.

In the midst of the first session see-saw battle, Tiken unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle from close range two minutes later to restore the lead.

Developing a move near the half line with W Tomba, Tiken possessed the ball and wrong-footing Orissa defender Raj an Dutta scored the second goal that crossed the goal line after a deflection from Marandi's hand. Leading by the slender margin, Manipur came close to increase the lead when Bijen headed off a James cross from the right. However, the attempt lacked sting and was collected by the custodian without much trouble.

While the hosts displayed better team coordination in the second session, Orissa also tested the reliability of Noren under the bar with attempts from the top of the box and dipping and swerving free kicks executed by Nipendra Das.

Noren, who otherwise, had a relatively easy outing in the preliminary round matches, was forced to dive, punch and rush out of his guard to prevent the speedy opponent strikers from causing further damage.

W Tomba scored the third Manipur goal with the match approaching the 60 minute mark after being fed with a defence splitting through pass by P Kennedy Singh 15 yards into the rival half. Tomba dashed forward and beat the keeper on the left after outsmarting a couple of Orissa defenders.

Most Valuable Player of the Match award winner, Bijen Singh scored his ninth goal of the tournament for the 4-1 win of the star-studded State.

After a solo run down the right flank, Bijen weaved into the box, and finding the opponent defenders tightly marking his teammate took the shot himself that went skidding through the substitute custodian Sukhdev Soren and the right post in the 82nd minute.

Ksh Kanta Singh, L Uttamkumar Singh and N Helen Singh substituted Tiken, S Dharamjit and Kennedy respectively in the second period of the match.

Besides thousands of spectator, Horticulture & Soil Conservation Minister RK Theko, Minister of State (Independent) for Youth Affairs and Sports A Aza, Indian women hockey team captain Surjalata, teammates Maimom Chanu Sanggai Ibemhal and Ng Pakpi Devi also witnessed the action-filled fast-paced match.

Earlier, in the group C clash, against Punjab, Karnataka preserved their 2-0 first half lead to emerge unscathed from the quarter final tie to brighten their chances of advancing further in the prestigious championship.

After muffing up a number of chances in the initial period of the opening half, Karnataka took the lead through Mahendra Mani in the 22nd minute off a Dayanand cross deep into the opponent penalty area.

Karnataka also had a chance to increase the lead five minutes later but the powerful attempt by Sunil S rebounded off the cross piece.

Sunil made amends two minutes later converting into goal a Dayananda grounder across the goalmouth after Rajendra Prasad failed to connect with only the opponent keeper to beat.

Karnataka missed the third, with the ball, off a Mahendra attempt going wide inches from the target. Punjab fared better in the second half, but goals continued to elude them with the striker lacking direction and sting in their attempts.

On the other hand, Karnataka content on preserving the comfortable 2-0 lead changed fresh legs to contain the Punjab onslaughts.

Dayananda SK walked away with the Most Valuable Player of Match award donated by the sponsor LG.