Shillong: Meghalaya concluded their Group B campaign in the Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 with a goalless draw against Odisha in Hyderabad on December 24.
Despite already securing a place in the quarterfinals after their victory over Goa two days ago, Meghalaya coach Hering Shangpliang opted to give match exposure to some of the less-utilized players in the squad.
Odisha, on the other hand, were keen on securing a win to enhance their chances of advancing to the knockout stage but were thwarted by a resilient Meghalaya defense.
With the draw, Meghalaya finished second in Group B with 8 points, while Odisha remained in fourth place with 5 points. Both teams’ positions, however, could change depending on the outcome of the Delhi (6 points) versus Goa (3 points) match later today. The other match scheduled for today will see group leaders Kerala (12 points) face bottom-placed Tamil Nadu (2 points).
The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will begin after Christmas. Group A’s quarterfinalists have already been determined, with West Bengal, Manipur, defending champions Services, and Jammu and Kashmir securing their spots.
Read More: Assam Records 15% Decline in Road Accident Fatalities, Announces CM Himanta Biswa Sarma