Santosh Trophy: Meghalaya and Brolington Warlaph hope for a happy ending
March 1, 2023
The thing is that now there is a sense of belief among the players, especially within the state. Before this, we had talent, but we didnt have that sense of belief within. But now when you look at the players, you see that theres a lot of belief, and they are a confident bunch, said Lyngdoh.
It also helped that the most of the teams to reach this stage have likely benefited from the change in format as to how the Santosh Trophy is played. The new format has seen teams that have reached the final stage get at least 10 games through the group stages and the second round.
Lyngdoh said, Before you would play one group match with four other teams and youd be out. Now, it happens like a league. Better teams keep getting better and the momentum grows as the tournament goes on. It no longer is a cut-short tournament that is happening for the sake of happening.
Final port of call
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Meghalaya beat a Punjab side that was missing four key players 2-1. While on paper the result seemed like a very close contest, and a last-minute goal helped Meghalaya to make the final, there were moments in the match where the team from Indias northeast showed why they have superior game sense.
Despite being surrounded by Punjab players on numerous occasions, they would find ways to either pass, or shift their bodies in ways that would give them an opportunity to control possession, slow the pace of the game to their own liking and launch attacks.
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made it to the Final after 47 years, with a victory over Services
Watch the highlights here
Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 5:35 pm