Hyderabad: Meghalaya’s journey in the Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 faced a setback on Tuesday as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Kerala in a crucial Group B encounter.
Muhammad Ajsal’s solitary strike in the 37th minute proved to be the difference between the two sides. The Kerala forward capitalized on a defensive lapse, unleashing a powerful shot from distance that left Meghalaya goalkeeper Siwel Rymbai helpless.
Meghalaya, under the guidance of coach Hering Shangpliang, made tactical changes to their starting lineup, introducing Badondor Marbaniang and Khrawkupar Jana. However, Kerala’s dominance in the first half proved too much to handle.
The second half saw Meghalaya step up their intensity, creating several promising chances. Unfortunately, they were unable to convert these opportunities, hitting the woodwork twice. Kerala, on the other hand, defended resolutely to secure the victory.
With this loss, Meghalaya’s hopes of progressing to the quarterfinals hang by a thread. They currently sit fifth in Group B with just one point from two matches. Their next match against Delhi on Thursday is a do-or-die encounter, as a win is imperative to keep their campaign alive.
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