Pema khandu

All India Football Federation President: Shafeel P.P. struck the winner after the hour mark as Services regained the title for the seventh time, beating Goa 1-0 in the Final of the 77th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at the Golden Jubilee Stadium here on Saturday.

More than 15,000 passionate people thronged the stadium to witness an exciting final, which had chances aplenty at both ends but took a thunderous strike from Services' Shafeel PP to make all the difference. The match was watched by Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, All India Football Federation President, Kalyan Chaubey and members of the AIFF.

There were no final-day nerves from either side as the game started with end-to-end action, with both goalkeepers making some early saves. As early as the sixth minute, Vijay J's cutback was met by Samir Murmu's shot, which was easily saved by Antonio Inacio da Silva in the Goan goal. At the opposite end, Mahammad Faheez tried his luck from 20 yards only for Sayad bin Abdul Kadir to collect comfortably.