While the Railways overcame a talented Uttar Pradesh 3-1 to top pool F with an unbeaten record, a young Manipur side overcame Association of Indian Universities 4-3 to regoster their third win in pool H.
Railways and Manipur have now joined defending champions Haryana (pool A), Punjab (pool C), Air India (pool E) and Tamil Nadu (pool G) in the knock-out stage of the competition which will begin on Sunday.
Jayanta Kumar Meitel and Gangamba, who scored two goals apiece, starred in Manipur's thrilling win, while for the Universities Barkat Singh (2) and Hansraj (1) were the goal-getters.
In the action-packed first half, Manipur scored twice through Meitel and Gangamba who found the mark in the 17th and 19th minutes.
But the Universities team fought back to equalise through Barkat (25th) and Hansraj (32nd).
Gangamba was once again at the thick of things and restored Manipur's lead just a minute after the breather, only to see Barkat putting Universities back on level terms in the 42nd minute.
Meitel then sealed the issue in Manipur's favour in the 55th minute.
Meanwhile, the Railways found their heroes in Sanjay Bir Singh (15th, 34th) and Victo Singh (42nd), while Chandan Singh (22nd) scored the solitary goal for UP. MORE
