West Bengal reaffirmed its dominance in Indian football, clinching the Santosh Trophy for a record 33rd time with a narrow 1-0 victory over Kerala in the final of the 78th edition at the GMC Balayogi Stadium on Tuesday.
The decisive moment came in the dying seconds of the match, deep into stoppage time. Robi Hansda, Bengal’s prolific striker, latched onto a header from Manotos Maji inside the box and calmly slotted the ball past Kerala’s goalkeeper Hajmal S, sparking wild celebrations on the field and in the stands.
Hansda, who scored his 12th goal of the tournament, emerged as the star of the championship. His ecstatic celebration, which included removing his shirt, earned him a yellow card but didn’t dampen the joy of his match-winning performance.
His consistent brilliance throughout the tournament earned him two prestigious individual honours: the Tulsidas Balaram Player of the Match award and the Peter Thangaraj Player of the Tournament award.
The final, however, was largely a cagey affair. Both teams played cautiously, rarely testing the opposition goalkeepers. West Bengal missed its key striker Naro Hari Shrestha due to injury, which hampered their attacking flair. The team relied heavily on crosses from the wings, which Kerala’s defense managed to neutralize for most of the game.
Kerala, while focused on counterattacks, failed to deliver the decisive blow. Their attempts included speculative long-range shots and low crosses, but none posed significant threats to Bengal’s goalkeeper.
As the clock ticked down and extra time seemed inevitable, Manotos Maji delivered a lobbed pass into the penalty area in the 90+4th minute. Kerala defender Adil Amal misjudged the situation, allowing Hansda the perfect opportunity to strike. His goal secured West Bengal’s first Santosh Trophy title in seven years, much to the delight of their coach, Sanjoy Sen.
Speaking after the victory, Sen expressed his pride in the team’s achievement. “In Bengal, it is all about winning the Santosh Trophy. To finish runners-up would be considered a failure. 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,” he said.
Hansda, the hero of the final, dedicated the victory to his family. “That I could score the match-winner is a huge bonus for me. I dedicate this victory to my father,” he said.
