The victory sealed East Bengal’s first national league title in 22 years, sparking emotional celebrations among players and supporters as decades of heartbreak and near misses finally came to an end.

Heading into the final day, the title race remained finely balanced, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant also level on points after winning their final fixture. However, East Bengal’s superior goal difference ensured the Red-and-Gold Brigade finished at the top of the standings with 26 points from 13 matches.

Despite the celebrations at full-time, the night began with tension for the home side. Inter Kashi stunned the packed stadium in the 14th minute when Alfred Planas latched onto a long ball and produced a brilliant first-time volley past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill to hand the visitors the lead.

The goal silenced the stadium and increased the pressure on East Bengal, who struggled to find composure despite creating several opportunities. League top scorer Youssef Ezzejjari came closest before halftime but somehow failed to convert from close range, while Planas continued to trouble the East Bengal defence with dangerous attacking runs.

Inter Kashi nearly doubled their advantage on multiple occasions, but East Bengal survived the difficult spell and entered the break trailing by just one goal. The momentum shifted completely after halftime.

East Bengal emerged with renewed urgency and found the equaliser in the 50th minute through Ezzejjari. A perfectly weighted pass from Anwar Ali split the Inter Kashi defence, allowing the Moroccan forward to race through on goal before calmly rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into the empty net.

The equaliser transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium as belief returned among the home supporters. East Bengal began pushing forward with greater intensity, forcing Inter Kashi deeper into their own half.

The decisive moment arrived in the 72nd minute when Bipin Singh delivered a dangerous cross into the box and Mohammed Rashid stretched to guide the ball into the far corner, sending the stadium into complete celebration.

The final stages were filled with tension as East Bengal defended their narrow lead while keeping an eye on developments elsewhere. However, when the final whistle blew, years of frustration disappeared instantly as players, staff, and supporters celebrated a historic title triumph.

The unforgettable campaign also saw individual recognition for East Bengal stars, with Youssef Ezzejjari winning the Golden Boot and Miguel Figueira claiming the Golden Ball award. Hrithik Tiwari secured the Golden Glove honour, while East Bengal received ₹1.25 crore as champions of the Indian Super League 2025–26.

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The final was a tight, tactical battle between two experienced sides, with both teams cancelling each other out during the 90 minutes of regulation time. Chances were few and far between, and neither defence was willing to give an inch as the contest moved into extra time with the score still level.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 109th minute, when Abhishek Pawar stepped up for Services and produced the decisive moment. His goal proved to be the difference in a tense encounter, sparking celebrations on the Services bench and breaking Kerala’s resistance late in the contest.

Kerala pushed hard in the remaining minutes, throwing players forward in search of an equaliser, but Services showed composure and discipline to see the game out and secure the national crown once again.

With this win, Services further cement their status as one of the most successful teams in Santosh Trophy history. Kerala, despite falling short in the final, can take pride in a strong tournament run and a spirited performance on the biggest stage.

Final Score: Services 1 (Abhishek Pawar 109’) – Kerala 0

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From the first whistle, FC Goa looked sharp, organised and hungry. The opening goal arrived in the 19th minute, when Boris Singh reacted quickly to a rebound inside the box and calmly placed the ball into the net. The early breakthrough settled Goa and allowed them to dictate the game with quicker passing and confident possession.

East Bengal pushed for a way back but struggled to find space against Goa’s disciplined defensive structure. Goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh and the backline stayed alert, cutting out crosses, blocking shots and limiting clear chances.

Goa doubled their advantage in the 74th minute, sealing the final. Substitute Muhammed Nemil, known for his creativity, made an immediate impact by setting up Carl Mchugh, who finished with a composed strike to make it 2–0. From that moment, the momentum firmly shifted in Goa’s favour.

In midfield, Borja Herrera, playing in his third straight Super Cup final, once again controlled the tempo, showing why he remains a key part of the team’s success. Goa’s experience, patience and tactical maturity stood out throughout the match.

For FC Goa, this title marks a major milestone — three Super Cup victories, including back-to-back championships, something no other Indian club has achieved. It also reflects the club’s strong development system, depth in squad quality and ability to perform under pressure.

East Bengal fought till the end but were unable to break through. They finish as runners-up after an impressive campaign, showing good promise heading into future competitions.

As fireworks lit up Fatorda, FC Goa lifted the trophy once again, celebrating a historic triumph with their fans. The journey continues, but for now, the Gaurs stand proudly at the top, champions of India for the third time.

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The final was a display of control and confidence from Pune. Captain Sharvari Mane led from the front with two crucial goals, while Arna Sindhav added another to seal the 3-1 victory. Pune’s defense stood tall under pressure, and their quick, attacking transitions made all the difference. From the first whistle to the last, Pune looked like a side determined to keep their crown.

Their road to the final was just as impressive. In the quarterfinals, Pune edged past Palghar 2-1, clinching victory with a dramatic last-minute winner that sent them through in style. The semifinals saw total dominance as they crushed Kolhapur 6-0, delivering a performance full of flair, precision, and control.

With this title, Pune once again underlined their status as the powerhouse of girls’ football in Maharashtra. Back-to-back titles are no small feat, an achievement to the hard work, talent, and discipline that define this exceptional young team.

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The Nerul schoolgirl’s scored once in each half through Jyoti Mehra just before the end of the first session and later their most influential and enterprising striker Reetika Sahani to record a 2-0 win against J.B. Petit High School, (Fort) to be crowned as the ‘Champion School of Mumbai 2014’.

The finals was a keenly fought and lively encounter as both the teams worked hard to make inroad into the rival territory to create goal-scoring chances. However, after both the sides missed some close chances, St. Augustine scored a few minutes before the end of the first half through Jyoti Mehra to take a 1-0 lead.

J.B. Petit girl’s were unfazed by that setback and rose to the challenge as they fought very hard to find the equaliser but did not find the breakthrough.

On resumption, St. Augustine hold a slight advantage started on a fast pace and struck the second goal through Reetika Sahani, who was later declared as ‘Champion Player’, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. J. B. Petit fought very gamely but could not score and had to settle for the number two position.

Earlier in the day, St. Anne’s, took the 3^rd spot as Cathedral of John & Connon failed to turn up for their match.

Results – Girl’s under-16 (final): St. Augustine, Nerul 2 (Jyoti Mehra, Reetika Sahani) beat J.B. Petit, Fort 0.

Other awards – Champion Player’: Reetika Sahani (St.Augustine).

‘Champion Scorer’: Akanksha Kandalkar (St. Augustine).

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