DHAKUAKHANA/SILAPATHAR: Kerala, Punjab, Services, and Railways won their respective 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round quarter-final matches in Dhakuakhana and Silapathar, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The four teams now enter the last four stage of the tournament, with the semi-finals slated to be held on February 5. Services will take on Railways in the first semi-final at the Silapathar Football Stadium, while Kerala take on Punjab in the second semi-final at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium. Both matches will kick off simultaneously at 13:30 IST, and will be streamed live on FIFA+.
Two first half goals and an injury-time insurance cover saw Kerala prevail over a fighting Assam 3-0 in the quarter-final of the Santosh Trophy at the Silapathar Football Stadium.
The home team, Assam, put up a dogged fight for most part of the second half and peppered the Kerala box with long lobs and diagonal crosses but failed to get the better of their equally determined defence, backed up as they were by a confident Hajmal S. In the goal.
Assam were the better team in terms of movements, but they traded their short-passing game for the long lobs and diagonals, and virtually played into the hands of their opponents who had five men in midfield. With almost the entire team camping in the Kerala half for most of the second half, they left them open to the dangers of quick counters. After surviving a couple of close calls, they eventually paid the penalty in injury time.
But it was Kerala who held the whip hand with their own attacking moves on either flank and managed to lend evidence to their superiority with two first half goals. Forcing a flag-kick, they forged ahead in the 17th minute. Arjun chipped it to the near post and Muhammed Ajsal headed it backwards. The ball dipped beyond the line into the goal with Manoj M
barging in to confirm its entry.
Santosh Trophy
Santosh Trophy 2025-26: Kerala, Punjab, Services, Railways in semi-finals
03 Feb 2026
AIFF Media Team
DHAKUAKHANA/SILAPATHAR: Kerala, Punjab, Services, and Railways won their respective 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round quarter-final matches in Dhakuakhana and Silapathar, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The four teams now enter the last four stage of the tournament, with the semi-finals slated to be held on February 5. Services will take on Railways in the first semi-final at the Silapathar Football Stadium, while Kerala take on Punjab in the second semi-final at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium. Both matches will kick off simultaneously at 13:30 IST, and will be streamed live on FIFA+.
Kerala 3 (Manoj M 17’, Muhammed Ajsal 44’, Aboobacker Dilshad 90+2’)
defeated
Assam 0
Two first half goals and an injury-time insurance cover saw Kerala prevail over a fighting Assam 3-0 in the quarter-final of the Santosh Trophy at the Silapathar Football Stadium.
The home team, Assam, put up a dogged fight for most part of the second half and peppered the Kerala box with long lobs and diagonal crosses but failed to get the better of their equally determined defence, backed up as they were by a confident Hajmal S. In the goal.
Assam were the better team in terms of movements, but they traded their short-passing game for the long lobs and diagonals, and virtually played into the hands of their opponents who had five men in midfield. With almost the entire team camping in the Kerala half for most of the second half, they left them open to the dangers of quick counters. After surviving a couple of close calls, they eventually paid the penalty in injury time.
But it was Kerala who held the whip hand with their own attacking moves on either flank and managed to lend evidence to their superiority with two first half goals. Forcing a flag-kick, they forged ahead in the 17th minute. Arjun chipped it to the near post and Muhammed Ajsal headed it backwards. The ball dipped beyond the line into the goal with Manoj M barging in to confirm its entry.
They almost struck again as Bibin Ajayan produced a brilliant free-kick that rocketed towards the middle of the goal but Assam goalkeeper Navajyoti Ayan tipped it acrobatically over the crossbar. Kerala stretched the Assam defence wide often and made it 2-0 a minute before the break. Viknesh sent his overlapping wing-back Sandeep S away down the flank. Sandeep, in turn, squared into the box and Muhammed Ajsal came charging in to flick it home on the run.
Assam swung into action on resumption with Rituraj Mohan controlling the midfield well. Sudeepta Konwar had a few effective runs down the left but the Kerala defence failed to budge. Once Sudeepta Konwar worked his way past three, only to slam the ball wide from close.
Kerala played at a slow pace and absorbed all that was thrown at them. They waited for their chances and launched quick counters, only for Muhammad Ajsal to place wide and Viknesh to hit into the goalkeeper from close.
They made it 3-0 in the first minute of added time. Substitute Sajeesh S raced away down the right and pulled his cross back into the box. Another substitute Aboobacker Dilshad slammed a low angular shot into the far corner and it was all over for the gallant hosts.
