Bengal midfielder Sajal BaghMissing the second round of a spot kick proved to be the difference between the two sides as it was hosts Kerala who repeated their 2017-18 success with a 5-4 victory on penalties, as nothing could separate the two teams in 120 minutes. was not. soccer. This is the seventh time that Kerala has won the Santosh Trophy title.
That winning moment #KERWB ️ #HeroSantoshTrophyFinal #HeroSantoshTrophy #IndianFootball ️ https://t.co/XNE8WDGgA9
– Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) 1651512928000
After a goalless 90 minutes where Bino George’s Kerala looked shaky and Bengal created better chances, Dilip Oraon In the sixth minute of extra time, Supriya Pandit led the opener from the cross.
Bengal were three minutes away from a record-extending 33rd National Football Championship title and it looked like all was lost for Kerala, but Mohamed Safnadi The home visitors were sent into a frenzy after scoring a draw and forcing a penalty shootout.
️ Kerala Head Coach Bino George: It’s the crowd that helped us win today 🙏#KERWB ️ #HeroSantoshTrophyFinal … https://t.co/Rr9pksNNZn
– Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) 1651513182000
Bengal coach Ranjan Bhattacharjee On the eve of the final, it was said that there would be pressure on all the hosts to perform in front of their enthusiastic supporters. And this indeed proved to be the case as Kerala looked shaky in the first half.
Kerala failed to take the marker Nabi Hussain Khan A corner in the fifth minute, but the Bengal defender’s header missed the goal by an inch. In the 23rd minute, Mahtosh Roy, again unmarked in the middle of the box, failed to make a proper connection with the Dilip Oravan cross.
Kerala are champions KER 1-1 WBKER: WB: https://t.co/53ww8Zm5Iq️… https://t.co/5UgOrb3hUp
– Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) 1651512043000
With Bengal dominating, Kerala were forced to sit back and defend for the lion’s share of the first half. And the biggest of their half came from a quick break as Viknesh M failed to work Bengal goalkeeper Priyanth Kumar Singh after he played through on goal in the 33rd minute.
Priyanth was once again called into action the next minute as he had to clear Sanju ji’s cross. Bengal also finished the half strong as Mahtosh forced Kerala’s custodian Midhun V for a brilliant defense in the 37th minute before Fardeen Ali Molla failed to complete a cross from Khan in the first half.
Kerala was much more composed in the second half. Bengal defender Khan gave possession to Jijo Joseph in his own half and though the Kerala captain beat the opposition keeper, he saw his shot roll wide in the 58th minute. Six minutes later, substitute Jessen Teke fired wide after playing a one-two with Jijo in a promising position.
At the other end, Fardeen missed a header from close range after being found by a cross from Supriya Pandit in the 77th minute.
Regulation time came to an end with Kerala’s Shighil NS holding some big chances. In the first minute of second-half injury time, Jijo found the young midfielder in a space inside the box, but Priyanth took the shot with ease.
Extra time was applied, but not before Shighil threw his shot from a pass just before the referee’s whistle.