Football
Santosh Trophy: West Bengal defeats Kerala 1-0 to become Champion-HIGHLIGHTS
Seven-time champions Kerala will look to turn the tables on their old rivals.
West Bengal has won the Santosh Trophy a total of 32 times. (Photo Credit: AIFF)
In what can only be termed as a fitting finale, the 78th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 will be played between two states that are perhaps the most passionate about Indian football.
West Bengal, having won 32 titles, will a mind-numbing 47th final. Kerala, meanwhile, are seven time champions and will take heart from the fact that they have beaten Bengal in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 finals.
The final will kick off at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday at 7.30pm.
Stay tuned for all the live updates.
Live Updates
- 31 Dec 2024 2:26 PM GMT
22' Bengal on the offensive
Bengal on the counter now...from the right flank to the center-field and the ball is collected at the edge of the Kerala box and a shot on target from Bengal...just high of the cross bar!
A brilliant move nonetheless from Bengal.
- 31 Dec 2024 2:21 PM GMT
18' Kerala has settled down now...
A shot on target for Kerala but wide of the upright though.
Kerala able to break the defensive line from the left flank there and that shot on target is bound to hand them a lot of confidence.
- 31 Dec 2024 2:14 PM GMT
10' A free header for Kerala in front of goal...
...but its high over the crossbar.
A fantastic run on the right flank and a precise cross finds a free header.
That was a golden opportunity for Kerala to take an early lead.
- 31 Dec 2024 2:12 PM GMT
9' Bengal solid in defense
On a couple of instances now, Kerala have found themselves in the Bengal penalty box but Bengal have been equal to the task in defense.
- 31 Dec 2024 2:10 PM GMT
7' Bengal making all the plays at the moment
They're keeping possession, stringing together passes and making the crosses as well.
- 31 Dec 2024 2:07 PM GMT
3' West Bengal holding possession...
...and making measured inroads into the Kerala penalty box.
A cross from the left flank into the box goes abegging.
- 31 Dec 2024 2:04 PM GMT
Here we go...
1:30 - West Bengal playing right to left make the first move into the Kerala box.
A cross goes high and wide...
- 31 Dec 2024 2:01 PM GMT
Road to final
Kerala topped Group B. They beat Jammu and Kashmir in the quarterfinal and then brushed aside Manipur in the semifinal.
Meanwhile, West Bengal topped Group A. Thereafter, they beat Odisha in the quarterfinal and went on to beat defending champion Services in the semifinal.
