Rakesh oram

National Football Championship: West Bengal edged out Odisha 3-1 to qualify for the semifinals of the 78th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 at the Deccan Arena on Thursday.

Odisha had a bright start to the game as Rakesh Oram put them in the lead in the 25th minute. Bengal found the equaliser at the stroke of half time through Narohari Shrestha and struck twice more via Robi Hansda (70’) and substitute Manotos Maji (90+2’) to enter the semi-finals for the 52nd time.

Hansda's ninth goal of the campaign saw him pull further away in the goalscoring charts.