In a thrilling encounter at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad, West Bengal secured their 33rd Santosh Trophy title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kerala on Tuesday. The match, marked by intense competition, saw Robi Hansda scoring the decisive goal in added time during the second half. Hansda’s goal came from a point-blank finish after Aditya Thapa’s header set him up inside the box, leaving Kerala’s goalkeeper with no chance.
Both teams had been in fine form throughout the tournament, winning nine out of their ten matches, with one draw each, making the final a fitting showdown. Historically, West Bengal has been the dominant force in the Santosh Trophy, but Kerala, who had won the title twice in the past five years, entered the final with the edge, having defeated Bengal in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 finals.
However, West Bengal exacted their revenge in this closely contested final, proving once again why they are the most successful team in the competition’s history.