Kerala showed incredible resilience as they beat tournament favorites West Bengal 5-4 in a penalty shootout in the Santosh Trophy final.
This is Kerala’s seventh title and this time, they’ve won it on their home soil.
Bengal scored in the 97th minute of extra-time courtesy of Dilip Orawn and just needed to hold on for some more time, but couldn’t.
Bibin Ajayan came up with an equalizing goal for Kerala with a looping header from a cross off the right wing.
The game went into a penalty shootout and Kerala came out victorious to win their first Santosh Trophy on home soil since 1993 in Kochi.
Along with Indian half, some players and fans reacted in huge numbers after Kerala’s win. Here are some of the best tweets:
Champions ♥️????????????????????????????????????????????? #SantoshTrophy
— C.K. Vineeth (@ckvineeth) May 2, 2022
Scenes in Malappuram as Kerala beat West Bengal to win the Santosh Trophy ?
This is their first win on home soil since winning in Kochi in 1993 pic.twitter.com/pn63do6Y12
— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) May 2, 2022
Celebrating Kerala’s Santosh Trophy win with a gallery of thousands! ⚡
What an Atmosphere!#IndianFootball #SantoshTrophy #KeralaFootball pic.twitter.com/DWUJQW302B— Dhananjayan (@_DhananJayan) May 2, 2022
Tournaments like Santosh Trophy, Durand Cup and Super Cup should be given more importance as they have enormous potential to become successful! ?#IndianFootball #SantoshTrophy #IFTWC pic.twitter.com/JFeFWjZKEn
— IFTWC (@IFTWC) May 3, 2022
? | Kerala captain Jijo Joseph announces retirement from Santosh Trophy.
“I won’t play in Santosh Trophy anymore, happy to retire with the trophy. I have offers from some clubs, will have a look at them. The response from department is also good, so let’s see.” #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/CpRCiZ2Zzx
— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) May 3, 2022
Congratulations to all the lovely fans of Kerala. You guys deserve this success. Celebration time ?????
— Chetan Singh Chouhan (@chetanschouhan_) May 2, 2022
Kerala fans made this tournament a great success. Kudos to them ??
— Chetan Singh Chouhan (@chetanschouhan_) May 2, 2022
Congratulations Kerala. Love from West Bengal ❤️
— Aniruddha. (@imAppyAni) May 2, 2022
Absolutely Incredible scenes all over Kerala! ?
– Akhil Babu (@Akhil7Cena) May 2, 2022
What a game it was!! Absolutely breathtaking!! ?
— Joseph George (@Kite_Runnerr) May 3, 2022
Congratulations Kerala…from the #Mariners.#SantoshTrophy
— #JoyMohunBagan (@RemoveATK) May 2, 2022
❤
— eldhos Cj (@cj_eldhos) May 2, 2022
THE TROPHY IS HOME! ?
Congratulations to the boys on becoming the #SantoshTrophy champions for the 7th time in our great state’s history?#YennumKerala pic.twitter.com/oFoySzspQ9
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) May 2, 2022
#IndianFootball things you can find in Kerala right now:
1. Santosh Trophy Champions
2. I-League Champions
3. IWL Champions
4. ISL Finalists#KeralaFootball— Hari Thoyakkat (@harithoyakkat) May 2, 2022
Big congratulations to the Kerala Santosh Trophy team for winning this prestigious tournament. You have given the people of Kerala the much awaited happiness. #WellDone
— Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (@SukhanGill01) May 2, 2022
Heartfelt Congratulations to the Kerala football team on winning its seventh Santosh Trophy. Kudos to your efforts and achievement.
Wishing you the best for your future! @IndianFootball @IndiaSports@CMOKerala @VABDURAHIMAN1 #KERWB #HeroSantoshTrophy #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/ELbloPNTvi— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) May 3, 2022
If I am correct, more people watched the Santosh Trophy Final between Kerala and Bengal than the ISL opener, Kolkata Derby and any Indian Football Team game “online” this season. There were 1L+1L (FB+YT) viewers officially during the shootout. Not counting the pirated streams.
— Sayak Dipta Dey (@sayakdd28) May 2, 2022
Kerala wins the Santosh Trophy 2022. They beat West Bengal 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1. congratulations @keralafa. ??? #IndianFootball #SFtbl pic.twitter.com/o1QLMmERGz
— Sevens Football (@sevensftbl) May 2, 2022
Congratulations Team Kerala!
Champions of 2022 Santosh Trophy#SantoshTrophy2022 #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/bfj3uBu07A— football news india (@fni) May 2, 2022
? CHAMPIONS?
congratulations to @keralafa for winning the 75th Santosh Trophy, truly deserved. ⚡️
This team is full of ? ✨ #KeralaFootball #Champions pic.twitter.com/BvKWE4OLIo
— Gokulam Kerala FC (@GokulamKeralaFC) May 2, 2022
Kerala are the ????????? of Hero 75th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy ⚡️??
congratulations, @keralafa #IndianFootball #KERBEN #SantoshTrophy pic.twitter.com/HfGMHAlzVj
— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) May 2, 2022
Congratulations to West Bengal for finishing as Santosh Trophy runners up!
Chin up, boys ♥️#ATKMohunBagan #JoyMohunBagan #AmraSobujMaroon #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/uq8orI9WcK
— ATK Mohun Bagan FC (@atkmohunbaganfc) May 2, 2022
Performance of Kerala team in the 75th edition of Santosh Trophy ?⤵️
⚔️ Matches: 6
✅ Win: 5
? Draw: 1
❌Defeat: 0
↗️Goals scored: 19
↙️ Goals awarded: 7
? Clean sheets: 2#HalfwayFootball #SantoshTrophy#KeralaFootball #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/UvbCScdpmf— Halfway Football (@HalfwayFootball) May 3, 2022
Kerala are the champions. Current ileague winners, current IWL holders, ISL finalists and now Santosh Trophy champions. Surely this football revolution is here to stay?
— Nevin (@nevinthomas) May 2, 2022
Had @KeralaBlasters won the @IndSuperLeague title, all football titles in India would have been Kerala’s, except the women’s national crown:
I-League (@GokulamKeralaFC)
IWL (Gokulam)
Santosh Trophy: Kerala #Football#IndianFootball
— TN Raghu (@tnrags) May 2, 2022