Smiles throughout: The jubilant Karnataka crew after its successfull Santosh Trophy marketing campaign.
| Photo Credit: Special association
Karnataka got here up with a dominant efficiency to prevail over a preventing Meghalaya 3-2 within the closing of the 76th National soccer championship for Santosh Trophy on the King Fahd International Stadium right here on Saturday.
This was the primary trophy for Karnataka which had beforehand received 4 occasions because the princely State of Mysore, after a spot of 54 years (after 1968-69). The win introduced out wild celebrations in a few thousand Indian expatriates, who had turned as much as see the 2 Indian States battle it out within the closing on the Saudi Arabian capital.
Karnataka took a 3-1 lead on the break after which Meghalaya might solely rating one to cut back the margin. Sheen Stevenson pulled one again on the hour mark when Donlad Diengdoh left the ball with a pleasant dummy on a Banskhemlang Mawlong cross to depart the previous with the prospect (2-3).
Early purpose
This occurred after the Karnataka midfielder Jacob John had missed two good possibilities to boost the crew’s lead.
Earlier, Karnataka went into the lead within the second minute, due to a protracted throw from Robin Yadav which opened the prospect for Sunil Kumar to take a profitable crack on the Meghalaya purpose. The Karnataka wing-back fired an angular half-volley that deflected off the leg of a Meghalaya defender to seek out the online.
Karnataka’s pleasure was shortlived although, as Meghalaya received a penalty within the eighth minute when Karnataka defender G. Nikhil introduced down Sheen Stevenson in his personal field. Brolington Warlarphi discovered the online from the spot to convey Meghalaya on stage phrases.
Meghalaya had one other shut probability a few minutes later however Figo Syndai couldn’t hold his shot on track. This appeared a expensive mistake as Karnataka regained the lead within the nineteenth minute when Sunil Kumar introduced down a Jacob John cross to arrange Bekey Oram, who made no mistake along with his ending. Robin Yadav made it 3-1 simply earlier than half-time, sending dwelling a tasty free-kick taken from simply outdoors the field.
Earlier, Services received the third place beating Punjab 2-0 within the playoff match held earlier than the ultimate. Shafeel P.P. and Christopher Kamei discovered the goal as soon as in every half to grasp the win for the 2018-19 champion.
The third-place playoff match additionally noticed the introduction of the VAR system making it the primary time an Indian males’s crew performed beneath the digital referral process for the referee. The system was not used within the match nevertheless it was in place for the Saudi Arabian referee Mohammed Al Daqqash to seek the advice of.
The outcomes:
Final: Meghalaya 2 (Brolington 8-pen, Sheen Stevenson 60) misplaced to Karnataka 3 (Sunil Kumar 2, Bekey 19, Robin 44).
Third-place playoff: Services 2 (Shafeel 7, Christopher 60) bt Punjab 0.
