AIFF Media Team

SILAPATHAR/DHAKUAKHANA: Kerala shot into a clear lead in Group B of the 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round, after defeating Odisha. Railways defeated Punjab, while Meghalaya played out an exciting 2-2 draw with Services, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The state from the south now lead the table with seven points, closely pursued by Meghalaya and Railways, who are on five. Services, with three points, occupy the last knockout qualification spot from Group B, and are followed by Odisha and Punjab, who have accrued just a point apiece; all teams have played three matches thus far.

Kerala 1 (Shijin T 22’)
defeated
Odisha 0

Kerala got the better of Odisha by a solitary goal at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium on Tuesday. The only goal of the match came through the boots of striker Shijin T in the 21st minute.

Shijin was the cynosure for most of the first 45 minutes – for the chances he squandered despite being well placed to score and also for the ‘gift’ that he made the most of when placing home what turned out to be the winner for his team.

On the attack from the word go, the blue-and-white-attired Kerala carved out two fine chances in the space of the first 11 minutes. Off a quick attack from the left, media Arjun sent Shijin into the box. But the striker placed into the onrushing goalkeeper Siddhanta Pathan, who managed to palm it away. Soon after, Shijin trapped a long clearance and barged past the defence only to lose control at a crucial time inside the box.

Yet, Shijin spelt danger all along, but the Odisha defenders somehow failed to keep a proper eye on him. Odisha began a move on the right with Abinash Muduli advancing and then playing the ball back to Gaurav Negi. The latter deflected to his left at the top of the box. With stopper Bisal Tigga far away, Shijin took control, sprinted past Bisal and Rakesh Oram, and placed firmly to the right of goalkeeper Siddhanta Pathan low into the near post.

Shijin was not done yet. Two minutes into injury time, he again darted past the defence, only to lose control and over-kick the ball inside the box.

Odisha were more methodical in their approach. They moved well with short passes. But wasteful passes were their undoing. They either played the passes blindly or else hung on far too much. This allowed the close marking Kerala midfield and defenders to either clear or build their own attacks.

After bungling many opportunities, Kerala almost added some insurance cover nine minutes before the end of regulation time, but Muhammed Riyas blasted the ball over the crossbar from near the penalty spot as he barged into the box on intercepting Odisha stopper Bisal Tigga’s pass. Fortunately, the lapse did not prove costly as Kerala hung on to claim the three points. 

Railways 2 (Ngathem Imarson Meitei 80’, Abdhu Rahman 90+3’)
defeated
Punjab 0 

Unbeaten Railways overcame Punjab’s challenge, scoring twice late in the second half at the Silapathar Football Stadium.

Substitute Ngathem Imarson Meitei gave Railways the lead in the 79th minute, while Abdhu Rahman made it 2-0 in the 93rd minute to seal their victory. 

Five fresh pairs of legs for the better part of the second half seem to have done the trick for the Railways. They outwitted and outran a tiring Punjab, who did bring in new faces into the game, but to little or no avail.

Railways attacks became more pronounced and powerful as they stepped up a gear or two and moved a lot more briskly to shake off Punjab’s markers and threaten the goal more often than they had done thus far. 

A goal seemed imminent any moment and it duly came in the 80th minute. Taking a free-kick quickly, Railways switched their attack to the right, and skipper Johnson Joseph Mathews sped away down the flank. His cross was diverted to the far left, and with the Punjab goalkeeper Karandeep Singh stranded at the near post, Ngathem Imarson Meitei, who had rushed in, had the simple task of pushing it into the net from inside the six-yard box to give them the lead.

The goal rejuvenated them further. With their own defence standing tall, they broke free on the left this time in the third minute of added on time. Substitute Subrata Murmu squared to Ngathem Imarson Meitei, and the latter found the gap with a brilliant through pass. Abdhu Rahman controlled it well, moved into the box and produced a rising, angled left-footer that settled into the Punjab net to confirm their victory and subsequent three points.

Meghalaya 2 (Deibormame Tongper 45+1’, 64’)
drew with
Services 2 (Jijo Jerone 20’, Abhishek Pawar 34’)

Deibormame Tongper struck a superb brace as Meghalaya came from behind to hold Services to a 2-2 draw at the Silapathar Football Stadium.

Jijo Jerone (20’) and Abhishek Pawar (34’) gave Services the lead before Tongper reduced the margin in the added minutes of the first half. He then found the equaliser in the 64th minute. Meghalaya’s Dawanchwa Carlos Challam was sent off after he saw a second yellow card in the game in the 77th minute.

Services made a strong start and took the lead in the 20th minute from a set-piece. Wangkheimayum Sadananda Singh delivered a precise free-kick from the right, and Jijo Jerone rose highest to head home.

Meghalaya had a golden chance to respond nine minutes later when Jerone handled the ball inside the box, but Mebankhraw Khyriem Wahlang’s penalty was saved by Services goalkeeper Gagandeep Singh.

Services doubled their advantage in the 34th minute as Brijesh Giri’s inviting cross from the left was met by Abhishek Pawar, who headed in from close range. Moments later, Khullakpam Zahir Khan struck the woodwork, as Services threatened to run away with the contest.

Meghalaya, however, pulled one back in first-half stoppage time. Owanijuh Pajuh’s chipped delivery from the right found Tongper, who headed in to reduce the deficit.

The momentum shifted after the break, and Meghalaya completed the comeback in the 64th minute when Robertson Malkovich Khongriah’s corner was headed home by Tongper to make it 2-2.

Meghalaya were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after Dawanchwa Carlos Challam received his second yellow card for a foul on Zahir Khan. Despite pushing for a winner, neither side could find the decisive goal, and the points were shared.