Chennai, June 10 2009: In a keenly contested match Bengal defeated Services 2-0 in the first semi-final to enter into the finals of the 63rd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at the, Nehru Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday.

Services had no one but themselves to be blamed for the defeat as they failed to capitalise on the chances that came their way and their defenders never marked any of the Bengal strikers.

Though it was Services that started on an attacking but they kept on committing the same mistakes that they committed in their previous matches.

In the 4th Shaji shot was off target and four minutes later Raleng shot over the bar from outside the box.

Bengal initially had a shaky start and in the 12th minute Snehasish Chakraborthy flag kick was well headed by Lalanpuia only to find Services custodian Sujan Suku.

Five minutes later Bengal was back in action but a Denson Devdas shot was blocked by Services defenders.

In a counter attack CT Sajith cross from left flank had both Raleng and Mahesh Rai failing to connect it from inside the box.

Raleng who has been off color in the tournament received a cross from Mahesh Rai in the 25th minute but the strikers shot was not powerful enough to pose for Bengal outfit.

In the half hour mark Lal Routafela shot was punched over the bar by Bengal custodian Subhashis Roy Chowdhury.

With shots taken at Bengal goal at regular interval, the victors pulled up their socks and in the 34th minute Snehasish gave a cross from Lalanpuia whose shot from the left flank had Gourango Biswas heading it over Sujan Suku to give Bengal a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later Bengal were back in action but Denson Devdas shot was away from the near post as the match entered into the lemon break with Bengal leading 1-0 .

The start of the second half had Services once again starting on a positive note and trying hard to find the equalizer.

In the 63rd minute Shaji was brought down inside the box and Services were awarded an indirect free kick.

Services strikers failed to get the ball past Bengal defenders from the indirect free kick and in a counter attack Gouranga Biswas got a cross from Surojit Roy and Biswas dribbled past Sujan to tap it in to give Bengal a 2-0 lead.

Both the teams played with short passes and there was not and there were hardly any swift moves made.

Services got two chances in two minute but they wasted both.

In the 80th minute Shaji was left unmarked and his shot well stopped by Subhashis and a minute later Manish Negi header had Subhashis Roy Chowdhury making a diving save to help his team inch closer to a yet another title.

Meanwhile a keenly contested match is expected as after a span of ten years, both Goa and Tamil Nadu will once again come face to face in the second semi-final of the 63rd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Nehru Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.

Last time it was Goa who had come better of hosts with a 3-1 victory, but now things are different.

"It is going to be very tough for us as Tamil Nadu will be playing in their home ground.

They are the hosts and they will surely have the home advantage turning their way.

We would try hard to repeat the history tomorrow," Goa skipper Climax Lawrence said.

Tamil Nadu are high on confidence and they have a balanced side with Muthu and Riju combining well upfront and Kulthungan supporting the strikers well in the mid-field.

It's not just their strike force but having the likes of Ravanan, Kali, Mohanraj and Prem Kumar in their defence makes it impossible for opponent to break in their den.

And Goa team knows it very well.

"They have young players in their side who have combined well.

Riju has been highest goal scorer in the tournament and with Ravanan, Mohanraj in defence and VP Sathish beneath the bar it is going to be a very tough match.

Though we also have some experienced players but it is not going to be easy for us," Climax added.

Goa on the other hand has a side which has players mostly from I League and they haven't conceded a single goal in tournament so far.

With attacks from flanks they can be dangerous on a given day if they get their acts together.

Marcus Mascarenhas has been a delight to watch and he has a good partner in form of Beevan D'Mello upfront.

The duo has the ability to break into the opponents den at their will.

Though the Goan outfit has some injury troubles in Branco and Abranches but they have players who can replace them.

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