Santosh Trophy 2024: Bengal ride on Robi Hansda's lone goal to sink Kerala in final

This was Bengal’s 33rd Santosh Trophy title.

A goal booted in from almost a kissing distance by Robi Hansda deep into the add-on time in the Santosh Trophy 2024 final made all the difference as West Bengal players hugged and kissed the coveted Santosh Trophy they retained after seven years, defeating Kerala 1-0 at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

This victory marked West Bengal’s 33rd Santosh Trophy title in the National Football Championship, but the emotional fillip the triumph generated was unforgettable.

Hansda, a prolific striker, scored his 12th goal in the 78th edition of the Santosh Trophy tournament, dramatically changing the final’s outcome. He went wild with joy after netting the match-winner and took off his shirt to celebrate, an act that immediately earned him a yellow card.

Bengal edge past Kerala in Santosh Trophy finals at Hyderabad 🔥#IndianFootball #SantoshTrophy pic.twitter.com/8zK43yVtOX

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) December 31, 2024

However, the caution did not stop Hansda from running away with two top individual awards of the Santosh Trophy tournament – the Tulsidas Balaram Player of the Match award and the Peter Thangaraj Player of the Tournament Award. Given the way Hansda shouldered his team’s responsibilities from Day One, it was impossible to think of another contender for these accolades.

As the match appeared to be heading toward extra-time or a penalty shootout, Kerala’s defence was caught completely off-guard in the 90+4th minute. Striker Manotos Maji headed forward a ball in the box after receiving a lob from the left. Kerala defender Adil Amal was wrong-footed, and Hansda, who had positioned himself well inside the area just a few yards away from goalkeeper Hajmal S, slotted the ball into the net, triggering massive celebrations on the West Bengal bench.

A tightly contested Santosh Trophy 2024 Final

Overall, the Santosh Trophy final was not a match to be remembered for its quality. Both teams were cautious in their approaches from the outset and failed to test the rival custodians significantly. West Bengal was heavily handicapped by the absence of their key striker Naro Hari Shrestha due to injury, which blunted their attacking prowess to a great extent. They primarily relied on crosses from the wings, which did not pose much threat to the Kerala defence.

Kerala, on the other hand, adopted a cautious strategy but occasionally accelerated with counterattacks. However, their efforts lacked precision as they took fancy shots, attempted quick dribbles, and sent low crosses that lacked the necessary sting.

West Bengal coach Sanjoy Sen expressed his pride in bringing the Santosh Trophy back to Kolkata after seven years. “In Bengal, it is all about winning the Santosh Trophy. To finish runners-up would be considered a failure. So, I was aware of the pressure but took up the challenge. We had a completely young team, but they performed in the most incredible way throughout the tournament. Kudos to my boys for doing such a great job.”

Hansda, who emerged as the Santosh Trophy’s top scorer with 12 goals, expressed his happiness in contributing to the state’s success. “That I could score the match-winner is a huge bonus for me. I dedicate this victory to my father,” he said.

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