Srinagar: Meharjudin Wadoo led J&K Senior Football team started their campaign in the final round Group A of 78th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at the Deccan Arena on Saturday, December 14, 2024. with a 3-1 defeat vs football powerhouse West Bengal.
West Bengal who last won the title in 2016, beat J&K by 3-1. The Jammu Kashmir football team has qualified in the final round for the first time since 2015-16.
West Bengal didn’t waste any time to get going and found the opener inside three minutes when Robi Hansda headed in Suprodip Hazra’s curling corner. The second goal arrived nine minutes later via another fine header, Naro Hari Shrestha cushioning an inch-perfect cross from Juwel Ahmed Mazumder into the top corner.
Sanjoy Sen’s side were again quick to find the net after the second half restart. Bikram Pradhan scored with a hopeful strike from almost 35 yards out which took a bounce in front of goalkeeper Nirdosh Sagotra and trickled inside the near post. Jammu & Kashmir didn’t remain toothless in attack and got their consolation goal in the 79th minute as Arun Nagial headed in from a corner.
Score:
West Bengal 3 (Robi Hansda 3′, Naro Hari Shrestha 12′, Bikram Pradhan 47′) beat Jammu & Kashmir 1 (Arun Nagial 79′).