Naseeb rahman

National Football Championship: 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.