The race in Group A of the 2025–26 Santosh Trophy Final Round took a dramatic turn on Wednesday in Dhakuakhana, Assam, as both Uttarakhand and Assam opened their accounts with impressive victories, while tournament favourites West Bengal were forced to settle for a draw for the first time in the competition.
Three contrasting matches ensured the group standings tightened, injecting fresh intrigue into what is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive final round.
Uttarakhand fight back to stun Nagaland
Uttarakhand produced one of their finest performances of the tournament, coming from behind to defeat Nagaland 2–1 and claim their first win in Group A.
Nagaland started brightly and were rewarded early when skipper Laiwang Bohham struck in the seventh minute. Capitalising on a lapse in the Uttarakhand defence, Bohham finished clinically to give his side the lead and early control of the contest. The goal put Nagaland in a commanding position, especially given their disciplined defensive structure in the opening half.
Uttarakhand, however, showed patience and resilience. After trailing at the break, they raised their tempo and began to find more space in wide areas. Their persistence paid off in the 55th minute when Ajendra Singh latched onto a loose ball inside the box and fired home the equaliser, bringing the match back on level terms.
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Barely two minutes later, Uttarakhand completed a stunning turnaround. Nirmal Singh Bisht was quickest to react to a goalmouth scramble and smashed the ball into the net, sending the Uttarakhand bench into celebration. From there on, Uttarakhand managed the game maturely, closing down Nagaland’s attempts to get back into the contest and sealing a vital three points.
The comeback victory not only boosted Uttarakhand’s position in the group but also sent a clear message that they will be a serious force in the final round.
Assam dominate Rajasthan in front of home crowd
Hosts Assam also registered their first win in Group A with a commanding 3–0 victory over Rajasthan, delighting the home supporters in Dhakuakhana. Assam were on the front foot from the opening whistle, pressing aggressively and pinning Rajasthan deep in their own half. The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute following a corner from Pranjal Bhumij. Although Rajasthan initially cleared the danger, Akrang Narzary kept the move alive with two blocked efforts before Pragyan Gogoi bundled the ball into the net from close range to give Assam a deserved lead.
The hosts doubled their advantage just before half-time with a beautifully constructed move. Bhumij combined neatly with Dipu Mirdha down the right flank, before finishing the return pass with a crisp first-time strike into the roof of the net in the 43rd minute. Assam continued to control proceedings in the second half and effectively killed the game off in the 65th minute. Sudeepta Konwar’s low drive was saved by Rajasthan goalkeeper Mohit Sikhwal, but Akrang Narzary reacted fastest to tap home the rebound, making it 3–0.
The clean sheet and convincing margin of victory underlined Assam’s growing confidence and provided a major boost to their campaign as the group stage progresses.
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In the day’s third match, West Bengal dropped points for the first time in the final round after being held to a 1–1 draw by a spirited Tamil Nadu side.
Tamil Nadu took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 61st minute when Nandha Kumar Ananthraj produced one of the standout goals of the tournament. From outside the box, he unleashed a thunderous shot that flew into the top near corner, leaving the West Bengal goalkeeper with no chance. The goal forced West Bengal to push forward aggressively in search of an equaliser. Their pressure eventually told in the 81st minute when defender Sujit Sadhu rose highest at a corner and headed the ball into the net to level the scores.
Despite late attempts from both sides to find a winner, the match ended all square, a result that kept West Bengal at the top but allowed the chasing pack to close the gap.
Group A standings tighten
With Uttarakhand and Assam both recording their first victories, and West Bengal being held, Group A has suddenly become far more open. The results ensured that no team could afford complacency as the race for the knockout spots intensifies.
Matchday results – Group A
•Uttarakhand 2–1 Nagaland, Goals: Laiwang Bohham (Nagaland, 7’), Ajendra Singh (55’), Nirmal Singh Bisht (57’)
•Assam 3–0 Rajasthan, Goals: Pragyan Gogoi (33’), Pranjal Bhumij (43’), Akrang Narzary (65’)
•West Bengal 1–1 Tamil Nadu, Goals: Nandha Kumar Ananthraj (61’), Sujit Sadhu (81’)
As the Santosh Trophy Final Round rolls on, Wednesday’s results have ensured that Group A remains wide open, with multiple teams now firmly in contention for the top spots.
