Santosh Trophy 2024: Kerala, Odisha & Delhi secure wins with clean sheets

All three winning teams bagged clean sheets today.

Delhi and Kerala continued their winning run as they defeat Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya, while Odisha earned their first victory of the 78th Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 final rounds, defeating Goa at the Deccan Arena, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Both Delhi and Kerala are now embroiled in a close contest for the top spot in Group B; the two sides have earned six points from two matches apiece. Odisha, on the other hand, hauled themselves up from the bottom to the third spot.

Kerala see out Meghalaya challenge

Former champions Kerala clocked their second win in as many matches in the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 final rounds, as they edged Meghalaya 1-0. The only goal of the game came in the first half.

Muhammad Ajsal (37’), who had been threatening to breach the Meghalaya defence in the opening exchanges, scored the goal a little more than a handful of minutes before the half-time whistle. The forward received the ball with his back to the Meghalaya goal in the opposition half, and beat two defenders with a sharp turn, before firing it home low and hard from outside the penalty box.

Meghalaya, the 2022-23 Santosh Trophy finalists, however, were not to be easily deterred. Overkindness Mawnai had a fierce snap shot parried away by Kerala custodian Hajmal S, before Donborlang Nongkynrih’s shot from inside the box off a rebound was also palmed out.

The side from the northeast maintained the pressure after the change of ends, and came inches close to scoring, when a 65th minute indirect free-kick by Damanbhalang Chyne took a touch off of Wanboklang Lyngkhoi’s head before looping onto the cross-bar and out of play.

With three minutes of regulation time left, Meghalaya had another golden opportunity, though this one did not come about of their own volition. Kerala defender Manoj M, in his efforts at a rather desperate clearance, miscued his kick, sending the ball looping behind his head, and just inches over the woodwork. Kerala move on to six points in Group B, while Meghalaya remain on one point from two matches.

Odisha trump Goa

Odisha bounced back from their initial defeat against Delhi, to beat Goa 2-0. The score remained goalless at half-time.

After a first half that saw a midfield battle between the two sides, Odisha pulled up their socks after the restart against Goa. Forward Rahul Mukhi (60’), who was played through behind the Goa defence, entered the box and laced a low shot into the bottom corner to put Odisha in the lead.

The five-time Santosh Trophy champions were shellshocked, and Odisha capitalised on that to make it two just four minutes later. Put in charge of a close range free-kick, Kartik Hantal (64’) accurately placed the ball in the top corner, giving his side a two-goal cushion.

With two 0-2 defeats from two matches, Goa remain the only team in Group B to have not scored a single point thus far.

Delhi continue winning run

Delhi extended their winning streak in Santosh Trophy 2024-25 to five matches, after defeating Tamil Nadu 2-0. They led 1-0 at the breather.

The capital side got off to a swift start, gaining the lead in the 7th minute itself, as Bhaaranyu Bansal produced a sublime left-footed volley into the bottom corner. Ashish Shaw (65’) capitalised on a miscued clearance to head it in from close range, doubling his side’s lead.

Tamil Nadu remain fifth in Group B with a solitary point from their two matches so far.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.