Dhakuakhana (Assam), February 8 Services defeated Kerala 1-0 in a thrilling final of the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 at a packed Dhakuakhana Football Stadium here on Sunday.
This was the eighth time Services had won the tournament in their history. Striker Abhishek Pawar scored the only goal of a tense match in the 109th minute, after the first and second halves of extra time had yielded no goals.
This was the second time these two teams had clashed in the final of the championship. They had last met in the final of the 2012-13 edition in Kochi, when Services won 4-3 via a penalty shoot-out after the teams had drawn 2-2 after regulation and extra time. Services thus repeated that winning feat.
Services had last won the title in 2023-24 in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, defeating Goa 1-0 in the final.
This was also the second time these two teams had contested a final, as Assam had hosted six previous finals.
Services had lost to Bengal 1-6 in the 1969-70 final. Kerala had also lost to Bengal 3-4 via a penalty shoot-out after the teams drew 1-1 in the 1988-89 final.
As the large crowd waited with anticipation for a goal, and the match seemed headed for another penalty shoot-out, Services created a move down the left flank. Samuel Vanlalpeka sent Shubham Rana down the flank in the 63rd minute.
Advancing to the corner flag, Shubham Rana sent a measured centre into the box. Kerala goalkeeper Hajmal S managed to punch it away.
As the ball rolled towards the edge of the box, striker Abhishek Pawar swivelled and fired a low right-footer that went past the tiring Kerala legs into the net, and the Services team erupted with joy. Their large supporters in the stands were equally elated.
Kerala put everything into the final 12 minutes. But marshalled well by goalkeeper and captain Gagandeep Singh, the Services defence held firm and won the glittering trophy.
Abhishek Pawar, who had scored the only goal when Services defeated Kerala in their Group B league clash, repeated his effort against the former champions in the most crucial moment.
Aware of his striking potential, Kerala's defenders, especially Manoj M, kept him under tight control. They did not allow him any freedom in striking range. This helped them, as the Services midfield and wing-backs did not provide him with effective passes.
Pawar was also not as active as he should have been. But one cannot keep a good player down for long, and he ultimately prevailed.
On the contrary, Kerala's main striker, Muhammed Ajsal, proved to be a constant threat to the Services defence. His colleagues, Muhammed Riyas and Arjun, created a couple of dangerous moves to create chances for him. With the Services defenders playing wide apart, they exploited the space to send him through.
But Ajsal was a bit slow in his final efforts, and the desperate Services recovered to thwart him. Arjun sent him through superbly in the 20th minute, but Ajsal delayed his shot, and Chanambam Samananda rushed in to clear, resulting in an abortive corner-kick.
Yet, Arjun and Riyas did well to keep possession and stretch the Services defenders on both flanks. But somehow, their final passes were played a bit too hard and fast into the central defenders, and they yielded possession without provocation.