Malappuram, April 29: West Bengal entered the final of the 75th Santosh Trophy National Football Championship after defeating Manipur by 3-0 at Payyanad floodlit stadium on Friday. The 32-time champions Bengal will take hosts Kerala in the finals on May 2. For the winners, Sujith Singh handed the lead in the 2nd minute of the match. Bengal star player Md Fardan Ali Molla struck the team’s second goal in the 7th minute through a powerful shot from just inside the box. Dilip Orawan struck a goal in the 74th minute through a high looping shot from around 30 meters and the ball rested on the top of the corner and this goal confirmed Bengal’s finals berth. Manipur came back in the game after 30 minutes of the first half but their efforts to find a goal to reduce the margin did not materialize before the Bengal custodian Priyant Kumar Singh who saved several shots by Manipur forwards. Priyant Kumar Singh was awarded the Player of the Match. Although West Bengal lost to Kerala in the Group-A encounter by 2-0, their progressive game plan would create trouble for Kerala in the finals. This will be Kerala’s 15th Santosh Trophy final. (UNI)
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