Santosh Trophy: Kerala Dominates Manipur with a 5-1 Victory, Set to Face West Bengal in the Final
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Hyderabad, Dec 30 (NationPress) Kerala significantly outperformed Manipur with a score of 5-1, securing their place in the final of the Santosh Trophy for the 16th time on Sunday at the Gachibowli Stadium.
A late hat trick from Muhammad Roshal PP highlighted an exceptional team effort by Kerala, who will now compete against their long-standing rivals West Bengal for the trophy. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
In the day's earlier semi-final, West Bengal triumphed over the defending champions Services with a score of 4-2, marking their 47th appearance in the final.
In a thrilling first half, Kerala struck first, showcasing their impressive midfield tactics, which paid off in the 22nd minute. After a series of well-coordinated passes that disoriented Manipur's midfield, Muhammed Riyas executed a through ball aimed at Muhammed Ajsal. Ajsal let the ball pass, anticipating a run from his teammate Naseeb Rahman.
Rahman seized the ball 25 yards from the goal, maneuvered around the goalkeeper, and finished with precision, giving Kerala a well-deserved lead.
Manipur, familiar with overcoming deficits in previous matches, aimed to bounce back. In the 30th minute, a long throw-in led to Nijo Gilbert handling the ball in the box, granting Manipur a penalty opportunity. Shunjantan Ragui confidently converted it, striking the ball into the roof of the net.
The game maintained its unpredictable rhythm towards the end of the first half. S Hajmal mishandled a stray shot from Manipur, triggering a chaotic scramble for the ball. Just before the half-time whistle, Kerala executed a swift counterattack that restored their lead.
On the left wing, Riyas made an incisive run towards the byline and delivered a precise low cross to the center. An arriving Ajsal displayed composure and skill, finishing the move with a backheel flick. Kerala entered the break in the lead.
In the second half, Manipur intensified their efforts for an equalizer while Kerala adopted a more defensive posture. However, a moment of brilliance in the 73rd minute decisively tilted the match. Substitute Muhammed Roshal intercepted the ball forty yards from goal, sprinted toward the center, and unleashed a stunning shot from outside the box that found the bottom corner.
With a two-goal advantage, Kerala effectively sealed Manipur's fate. The defensive line of Manipur crumbled under pressure as Roshal netted two additional goals, including one from the penalty spot during injury time, concluding a magnificent victory for Kerala. Nonetheless, they faced a setback with defender Manoj M receiving a red card for a second yellow card offense.
