Twin Hat-Tricks Seal Bengal’s Dominance in Santosh Trophy Qualifiers

Sayak Banerjee / 18-11-2024

Bengal is in imperious form in the Santosh Trophy qualifiers, following up their 4-0 win over Jharkhand with a 7-0 demolition of Uttar Pradesh at Kalyani Stadium on Monday. Sanjoy Sen’s boys have virtually secured their place in the main round with this commanding performance.

Rabi Hansda, who scored a brace in the opening match, stole the show with four goals, including a hat-trick. Monotosh Majhi, another standout performer, added a hat-trick of his own. With six points from two games, Bengal is cruising, though coach Sanjoy Sen remains cautious.

Despite Uttar Pradesh losing both their matches and Bihar falling to Jharkhand 3-5, Bengal faces Bihar next in a game with slim mathematical risks. Only a 10-goal defeat to Bihar or a massive win for Jharkhand over Uttar Pradesh could jeopardize Bengal’s qualification.

Coach Sen emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum: “We’ve told the boys to aim for big wins. A dominant run in the group stage will keep us mentally strong.” Bengal’s final game against Bihar on Wednesday will be crucial for securing a morale-boosting finish.