Kerala made a dramatic start to the final round of the Santosh Trophy 2025–26, pulling off a quickfire comeback to defeat Punjab 3-1 in Assam on Thursday. The former champions, runners-up in the previous edition, struck three times in just seven minutes to turn the match on its head at the Silapathar Football Stadium.
Punjab began the contest on the front foot and took a deserved lead in the 27th minute through Jatinder Singh Rana. His goal forced Kerala onto the backfoot, and despite sustained pressure from Shafeeq Hassan Madathil’s side, Punjab’s compact defence held firm to protect the advantage going into half-time.
The complexion of the game changed completely after the restart. Kerala returned with renewed urgency, pressing high and committing numbers forward. Their persistence paid off within eight minutes of the second half when Manoj M found the equaliser, sparking life into the contest and shifting momentum decisively.
What followed was a blistering spell from Kerala, led by the influence of Muhammad Ajsal. Just three minutes after the equaliser, Ajsal struck in the 58th minute to give Kerala the lead, completing the comeback in emphatic fashion. The forward was not done yet, adding another goal four minutes later to put the result beyond doubt and cap a remarkable turnaround.
Ajsal’s performance underlined his growing reputation. Fresh from being named Player of the Tournament in Super League Kerala this season and having played a key role in Kerala’s Santosh Trophy campaign last year, he once again rose to the occasion when his team needed him most.
Elsewhere in the final round, Meghalaya edged past Odisha with a narrow 1-0 win at the same venue. Baby Sunday Marngar scored the only goal of the match in the 23rd minute, helping the 2022–23 runners-up secure three valuable points.
In another fixture, former champions Services and Railways played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium. Wangden Tamang gave Services the lead in the 28th minute before Ngangbam Pacha Singh equalised in the 74th minute with a clever finish, ensuring both sides shared the spoils.
The opening day delivered drama and intensity, setting the tone for an exciting final round ahead.
