Goa, March 26: Bengal rode on Manvir Singh's goal at the death to pip Goa 1-0 in the final of the national football Championship for the Santosh Trophy here on Sunday, March 27.
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Manvir's 119th-minute left-footed strike following a pass from Shaikhom Ronald Singh gave Bengal their record 32nd Santosh Trophy, leaving the huge crowd shocked.
Basanta's header rebounding off Peter and crashing off the underside of the cross bar. Luckily for Goa the ball didn't cross the line.
The second period of extra time too saw George D'Souza being completely exposed on the right side of defence with Basanta and Manvir both making mazy runs and cutting inside leaving Goa on the edge.
Just when Bengal were getting ready for their second successive tie breaker, Goa's weakness on the right came to haunt them in the 119th minute when Manvir came up with the winning goal for the eastern state.
After the win, Indian Football Association president Subrata Dutta told IANS: "Bengal has once again proved to be the best football State of the country, winning the Santosh Trophy 32 times which is 25 times more than any other state in India.
"I am sure with the AIFF's introduction of the State ranking system. Bengal will always come first."
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated her state's team on the win. "Heartiest congratulations to Team #Bengal for winning the Santosh Trophy. We are all proud of you," she wrote on Twitter.
IANS