HYDERABAD, Dec 18: Bengal secured themselves a spot in the quarter-finals of the 78th Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25, with a 2-0 win against Rajasthan, while Jammu & Kashmir held Manipur to a 1-1 draw in Group A at the Deccan Arena on Wednesday,
The 32-time champions are now on nine points from three matches. Manipur are on seven from three, and Jammu & Kashmir earned their first point this season in the final rounds.
Bengal scored on either side of the half-time break to defeat Rajasthan 2-0, a victory that secured them a top for spot in Group A, and a place in the quarter-finals of the Santosh Trophy.
Rabilal Mandi (45′) opened the scoring just minutes before the half-time whistle, as he pulled the trigger from long distance to plant his snapshot in the bottom corner.
Bengal began the second half with an intent to bury any of Rajasthan’s hopes for a comeback. Five minutes into the second period, Naro Hari Shreshtha surged up the right flank and cut a low cross across the face of the goal. Supriya Pandit arrived on time to get his shot away, but Rajasthan gopalkeeper Gaurav Kumar Singh prevented the Bengal forward from troubling the scorers.
In other match, Jammu & Kashmir earned their first points of the 2024-25 Santosh Trophy final rounds after an injury-time equaliser against Manipur in a 1-1 draw. Manipur led 1-0 at the break. (UNI)
The post Bengal in Santosh Trophy QF, J&K hold Manipur to 1-1 draw appeared first on Daily Excelsior.