The 2024-25 Santosh Trophy Final was an intense battle between two footballing giants—West Bengal and Kerala. The match ended with West Bengal emerging as the champions after a hard-fought 1-0 victory, securing their 35th Santosh Trophy title. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key moments and stats from this thrilling encounter.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Goalscorer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 1-0 | Sourav Das (69′) |
| Kerala | 0 | N/A |
First Half: Tactical Play and Missed Opportunities
The final kicked off with both teams determined to dominate. Kerala, known for their fast counter-attacking style, tried to break down West Bengal’s defense early on. However, West Bengal’s defense, led by their captain Arindam Bhattacharya, proved difficult to penetrate.
Kerala’s goalkeeper, Naveen Kumar, was in fine form, making several crucial saves to deny West Bengal an early lead. Meanwhile, Sujoy Das and Jiten Murmu of West Bengal controlled the midfield, dictating the pace of the game.
Despite several attempts, including a powerful shot from Sourav Das, neither team was able to break the deadlock, and the first half ended 0-0.
Second Half: Sourav Das Shines and Delivers the Winner
The second half was a different story, as West Bengal increased their attacking intensity. Their persistence paid off in the 69th minute when Sourav Das latched onto a perfectly timed through ball from Sujoy Das. With Kerala’s defense caught out, Sourav showed remarkable composure to beat Naveen Kumar with a low shot into the corner of the net, giving West Bengal a 1-0 lead.
| Time (min) | Event | Player/Team Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 69′ | Goal | Sourav Das (West Bengal) |
Despite a few half-chances from Kerala, including a header from Jithin M. that tested Subrata Paul in goal for West Bengal, they couldn’t find the equalizer. Kerala’s counter-attacks became more desperate, but West Bengal’s defense held firm, limiting Kerala to long-range efforts that were either blocked or off target.
Key Player: Sourav Das
Sourav Das was undeniably the star of the match. His decisive goal in the 69th minute secured the win for West Bengal, and throughout the match, his movement off the ball and work rate were crucial in maintaining pressure on Kerala’s defense. For his performance, he was rightfully awarded Player of the Match.
Match Stats
Here’s a closer look at the key statistics from the final:
| Stat | West Bengal | Kerala |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 3 |
| Total Shots | 13 | 8 |
| Corners | 5 | 4 |
| Fouls Committed | 14 | 12 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Substitutions
| Team | Substitution Time | Substitute In | Substitute Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 72′ | Dipankar Das | Sourav Das |
| 80′ | Arindam Bhattacharya | Subrata Paul | |
| Kerala | 56′ | Anil Kumar | Jithin M. |
| 68′ | Rino Anto | Ravi Kumar |
Conclusion: West Bengal’s Dominance Continues
West Bengal’s victory in the 2024-25 Santosh Trophy final was a masterclass in tactical football. They controlled the game through their midfield, with Sujoy Das and Jiten Murmu pulling the strings, while their defense stood solid under pressure from Kerala.
Kerala, despite showing resilience and some attacking flair, couldn’t break down West Bengal’s solid defense, and their inability to convert chances into goals proved to be the deciding factor.
With this win, West Bengal continued their impressive legacy in the Santosh Trophy, adding yet another title to their collection. As for Kerala, despite their spirited performance, they will look to regroup and come back stronger in the next edition of the tournament.
