Santosh Trophy: Ayub's Sole Strike Secures J&K's Quarterfinal Place
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Hyderabad, Dec 23 (NationPress) Jammu and Kashmir confirmed their place in the quarterfinals of the 78th Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy after a narrow 1-0 victory against Rajasthan at the Deccan Arena. Meanwhile, Manipur achieved a convincing win over the hosts, Telangana, with a scoreline of 3-1.
With this crucial victory, the team from the northernmost part of the country has ensured a top-four finish in Group A, concluding the group stage with seven points from five matches. In contrast, Manipur secured the second position with 11 points from the same number of games.
Jammu and Kashmir entered the match needing at least a draw to secure their quarterfinal berth, and they accomplished this by earning all three points while appearing relatively composed. Rajasthan, on the other hand, required a win and depended on a favorable outcome from the Manipur vs. Telangana match.
The first significant opportunity of the match arrived in the 6th minute when Mukesh Kumar from Rajasthan misfired a low cross, missing an open goal from just 10 yards. From that point on, Jammu and Kashmir gradually seized control of the match, dominating possession. In the 33rd minute, Aakif Javaid skillfully maneuvered past two defenders on the right, cutting inside to take a shot from just outside the box, which narrowly missed the target.
The breakthrough came in the 74th minute, thanks to the brilliance of Adnan Ayub. The forward seized a loose ball from 35 yards out, charged toward the penalty area, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot. Gaurav Kumar Singh, diving in an attempt to save, could do little as the ball found the net. Jammu and Kashmir secured a vital victory that propelled them into the quarterfinals.
In the encounter between Manipur and Telangana, Manipur took the initiative early on, displaying their creativity with a well-executed corner kick. A short pass was delivered on the left, where Prabin Khangebam sent a low cross into the box, allowing Kangabam Lammgamba Singh to instinctively score and give Manipur the lead.
Despite being down a goal multiple times throughout the tournament, Telangana showed resilience. They continued to press Manipur and were rewarded just before halftime when Mohammed Amaan made a delightful spin and delivered a through ball that Syed Imtiyaz Ahmed converted, leveling the score unexpectedly.
Manipur dominated the second half, relentlessly searching for the winning goal that would enhance their standing in the table. They created numerous chances but struggled to convert until the 85th minute when Khullakpam Zahir Khan broke through, twisting and firing into the bottom corner with his left foot. Shoraisham Sagar Singh added a third goal shortly after, sealing a comprehensive victory for Manipur.
