Imphal, February 24: Goa and Karnataka have joined Punjab in the quarter finals of the 13th Senior Women's National Football Championship while Assam exited from the competition having drawn all its two group matches.

In a group F tie at the District Mini Stadium, Bishnupur today, Assam held Goa to a goalless draw in a match somewhat marred by the referee questionable conduct regarding restart following a midfield dispute.

Instead of restarting the match given equal opportunity to both side having stopped the proceeding when still in play the referee awarded the restart to Goa evoking boos from the spectators.

Assam had split points with Chandigarh in its first outing on February 22.Having lost 0-5 to Goa, Chandigarh's chance of advancing to the last eight stage also perished following today's result as competition rule stipulates entry of only two second best losers from the group phase besides the toppers.

On the other hand, Karnataka cemented its place in the quarters with the second successive win in the last group A clash at Mapal Kangjeibung overcoming a fighting Delhi 2-1 with goals from P Vanitha and P Shiva Shankari in the 53rd and 68th minutes respectively.

Delhi stunned the Karnataka girls with a 45th minute strike through Vinita Baloni off a Jyoti Tripathi pass.

However, a resurgent Karnataka not only restored parity with a Vanitha goal eight minutes into the second half but secured the win when Shiva Shankari slammed 15 minutes later following a defensive folly involving Kanchi Narzari of Delhi.

In the otherwise dull draw between Assam and Goa marked by spectator dissatisfaction the formers' strikers failed to penetrate into the opponent goal area marshalled by international Maymol Rocky.

Another international player in the Goan ranks Blanka Barretto, inspite of getting several gilt edged chances failed to direct her shots while Anajan Pegu and Minakshi Borgahain played their hearts out to propel Assam into the quarter finals but failed.

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