Khullakpam Zahir Khan (22) of Services, in action, against Karnataka, during the group stage of 79th national Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26, at the Bengaluru Football stadium, in Bengaluru on December 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar
Services edged out Karnataka 2-1 in an exciting Santosh Trophy qualifying round match at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Monday (December 22, 2025).
Zahir Khan gave Services the early lead with a calm penalty conversion. The forward then added another to the tally in the 15th minute, when he timed his run perfectly to head a cross in.
Karnataka pulled one back in the second-half, after Services’ Roshan Panna failed to get past Karnataka goalkeeper Sahil in a one-on-one chance.
Sahil’s quick goal kick led to a perfect strike from Louis Nickson, who struck a curler from outside the box.
Karnataka continued to attack, and managed to find the net in the 87th minute. The celebrations, however, came to a halt when the referee disallowed the goal due to a handball foul.
In its opening match on Saturday, Karnataka had defeated Lakshadweep 3-0.
The results:
Lakshadweep 1 (Sabir Ali 65) drew with Goa 1 (Frazier Miranda 45); Services 2 (Zahir Khan 8, 15) bt Karnataka 1 (Louis Nickson 68).
Published – December 23, 2025 01:33 am IST
