Santosh Trophy: Kerala defeats Jammu and Kashmir team, reaches semifinals

Hyderabad: Kerala triumphed over a strong Jammu and Kashmir team with a 1-0 victory to reach the semifinals of the Santosh Trophy football tournament. The win was decided by a single goal scored in the 72nd minute by Naseeb Rahman.

After a goalless first half, the match saw a turning point in the 71st minute when coach Biby Thomas made a key substitution. Arjun and Mushraf replaced Aslam and Ajmal, respectively. In the very next minute, Joseph Justin sent a chip pass targeting Arjun, which was cleared by Jammu and Kashmir defender Ather Irshad. The ball landed near Naseeb Rahman, who controlled it with his chest and then volleyed it into the net, giving Kerala the lead.

Despite efforts by Jammu and Kashmir to respond, Kerala's defence, led by captain Sanju, held strong and blocked any chances of a comeback. Although Jammu and Kashmir created several opportunities in the final moments, their attacking line failed to capitalise, and the lack of finishing ability became their downfall.

Kerala will now face Manipur in the semifinals, scheduled for Sunday evening at 7.30 pm at the Gachibowli Stadium.