HYDERABAD — Naseeb
Rahman rose to the occasion once again as he scored the solitary goal of the
match to help Kerala defeat Jammu and Kashmir 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the
78th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2024-25 at the Deccan
Arena on Friday.
Rahman, who scored in the 73rd minute against Jammu
& Kashmir, is now the joint second-highest scorer of the tournament
(alongside Tamil Nadu's Lijo K) with seven goals to his name. Kerala, who have
reached the Santosh Trophy semi-finals for the 31st time, will take on Manipur
on December 29.
Kerala have been a formidable force in this season’s Santosh
Trophy, arriving at their quarter-finals against Jammu and Kashmir as one of
the unbeaten heavyweights of the competition. With a potent attack, Kerala’s
team dynamics have allowed them to score an impressive total of 29 goals while
their defence too stood firm, conceding only four goals so far.
Facing such a high-performing team, Jammu and Kashmir, under
the tactical guidance of former Indian defender and coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo,
prepared a robust defensive strategy to counter Kerala's aggressive play. They
effectively closed down spaces in the midfield, crucial for disrupting Kerala’s
build-up play, and tightly marked the wingers to prevent them from making impactful
runs down the flanks.
The first half thus saw Kerala’s players visibly frustrated
as they struggled to penetrate the solid defensive setup of Jammu and Kashmir.
And even when they did, Jammu and Kashmir’s goalkeeper Majid Ahmad was alert
and positioned perfectly to make timely saves.
Jammu and Kashmir themselves showed flashes of threat. In
the 27th minute, Aakif Javaid dashed down the right flank and delivered a cross
to Talib Nazir inside the penalty box. Despite having ample time and space,
Nazir’s shot sailed over the crossbar as the first half ended goalless.
Entering the second half, Kerala intensified their efforts
and piled on more pressure on the Jammu and Kashmir defence. Their persistence
paid off in the 73rd minute when a defensive mistake by Jammu and Kashmir
provided them with a golden opportunity. Joseph Justin delivered a cross that
the defenders failed to clear effectively, allowing Naseeb Rahman, who had
already netted six goals in the tournament, to take control with his chest.
Rahman showcased his composure and striking ability by firing a decisive volley
past the goalkeeper, putting Kerala ahead.
Jammu and Kashmir rallied to mount a comeback and came close
to scoring the equaliser in the 88th minute. A cross from the right was fisted
away by Kerala goalkeeper Hajmal S. However, the ball landed at the feet of
Shahmeer Tariq, who quickly took a shot, but his effort agonisingly soared over
the crossbar.
