AIFF Media Team

DHAKUAKHANA/SILAPATHAR: Kerala trounced Punjab, while Services defeated Railways, in the semi-finals of the 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round, in Dhakuakhana and Silapathar, Assam, on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Services will take on Kerala in the 2025-26 Santosh Trophy final on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 13:00 IST; the match will be streamed live on FIFA+.

Punjab 0
lost to
Kerala 4 (Muhammed Ajsal 16’, Muhammed Riyas 34’, 83’, Viknesh M 45’)

Kerala produced a brilliant display of controlled aggression to trounce Punjab 4-0 in the first semi-final at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium and storm into the final for the 17th time in their history.

Muhammed Ajsal put Kerala ahead in the 16th minute, while Muhammed Riyas doubled it in the 34th. Viknesh M slotted one home at the stroke of half-time. Muhammed Riyas found the net for his second, and Kerala’s fourth goal in the 83rd minute to complete the rout.

Kerala played a supremely confident game, laying a firm grip on the match with their controlled passing in the middle. Denied spaces to create moves, Punjab resorted to their long ball game, but often played them into the Kerala defence. Kerala’s authority was overwhelming, so much so that their goalkeeper Hajmal S barely got a touch of the ball. They even replaced him with Muhammed Jaseen late in the match to give the latter some game time as they had all but sewn up the match with a 4-0 lead.

Muhammed Ajsal had threatened the Punjab goal twice, but he shot wide once and had his second attempt saved on the line by Harjit at the expense of a corner-kick, which resulted in Kerala taking the lead. Arjun V chipped it high to the far post, and Muhammed Ajsal headed the dropping ball into the net with the Punjab defence almost static.

Kerala were out for more after having tasted success. Viknesh, Ajsal, and Riyas had their tries blocked. They forced another flag-kick in the 34th minute. Arjun rolled it across the box for the unmarked Bibin Ajayan. The latter produced a feeble shot into the box. The Punjab defence failed to clear, and Muhammed Riyas turned it home from close quarters. 

They scored one more in the 45th minute. The Punjab defence froze once again as Viknesh and Ajsal traded passes and moved up on the left. Viknesh was finally clear and slotted home an angular shot low into the far post.

With a 3-0 lead wrapped up, Kerala slowed down the pace and indulged in leisurely passes as they moved into open spaces and virtually ran circles around the clueless Punjab players.

Punjab made a few substitutions after the resumption. They did change their approach and pieced together some moves. However, they were unable to make any impression on the confident Kerala defence.

Kerala drove another nail when Punjab midfielder Harpreet Singh lost possession outside the box on the right. Substitute Sajeesh took control, moved up a few paces, and sent the unmarked Riyas into the box. The latter fired home from close range to make it 4-0.

Services 2 (Abhishek Pawar 33’, 73’ p)
Defeated
Railways 0

Abhishek Pawar struck twice as 2023-24 champions Services produced a clinical performance to defeat Railways 2-0 and book their place in the Santosh Trophy final at the Silapathar Football Stadium.

The win keeps Services firmly on course for an eighth Santosh Trophy crown, with Kerala standing in their way.

From the opening whistle, Services played with the authority of a team who know how to navigate high-stakes knockout football. They controlled possession, dictated the tempo and refused to give Railways any breathing space. Their midfielders won the key duels, while the forward line looked sharp and purposeful, probing patiently for openings.

Services created the better chances in the first half, with Samuel K Vanlalpeka and Pawar both going close as Railways struggled to settle. The pressure eventually told in the 33rd minute, when Services broke the deadlock through a well-worked set-piece. Chabin Rabha floated a free-kick into a dangerous area, and Pawar did brilliantly to cushion the ball down with his chest before driving a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner to give Services a deserved lead.

Railways attempted to respond quickly and nearly found an equaliser in the 40th minute from a set-piece of their own. Sukhandeep Singh delivered a long free-kick over the Services backline, allowing Abdhu Raheem to sneak in behind and take control. Raheem looked poised to finish, but goalkeeper Gagandeep Singh rushed off his line in time to make a vital save, preserving Services’ advantage heading into the interval.

The second half saw Railways push forward with greater urgency. Captain Johnson Joseph Mathews tried to inspire a comeback with long-range attempts, testing Gagandeep Singh repeatedly. However, the Services goalkeeper remained solid and assured, producing a series of saves to keep his side in command.

Railways’ resistance finally cracked in the 73rd minute when they conceded a penalty. A through ball released Khullakpam Zahir Khan into space, and defender Saurabh Bhanwala brought him down inside the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Pawar stepped up with calm confidence, sending Jaskaranbir Singh the wrong way to double Services’ lead.

With a two-goal cushion, Services tightened their grip and managed the closing stages expertly. They even came close to adding a third in the 84th minute when Pawar teed up substitute Roshan Panna, only for the effort to strike the woodwork.

It mattered little in the end. Services saw out the match with discipline and maturity, sealing a deserved victory and marching into the final in style.