Santosh Trophy Final: Meghalaya vs Karnataka Live Updates

8:45 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the Meghalaya vs Karnataka match in the Santosh Trophy 2022-23. The kick-off is just half an hour away! I’m your host Waseem Zaidi, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

Match Preview: Read Here

Meghalaya vs Karnataka: Build-up

The finish line is almost in sight. The Santosh Trophy’s Grand Finale will see Karnataka cross swords with Meghalaya at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

While the competition itself has come to newer horizons, with the semi-finals, third place match and the final being held overseas for the first time, the two teams in the summit clash are also in somewhat unfamiliar territories; Karnataka are in the final for the first time since the 1975-76 season, and Meghalaya will make their maiden appearance in the summit clash.

“This new format has been very good for us, for every team and the players in fact,” Karnataka coach Ravi Babu Raju says. “The sheer number of games means we can keep evolving our tactics, seek improvements, and ensure performances get better. Our players have had the chance to improve their game.”

The Meghalaya head coach also thanked the fans and urged them to keep supporting the team in the final.

“Our phones have been flooded with congratulatory messages. Even on social media, there has been an outpouring of love from fans in Shillong,” he said. “Everyone is excited. It gives us a lot of heart that they are supporting us from afar. It’s a moment of pride for us, and we want to take this trophy back to Shillong.”

For those at the Golden Tulip, though, the long term gains are of tertiary concern – once the match kicks off at the King Fahd Stadium at 9 pm IST, and the Indian Football fans tune in on Doordarshan Sports or FanCode platforms, all that will matter to the teams and the fans alike is who wins the trophy and etch their names in the annals of Indian Football history.