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Back in November, Maharashtra emerged as the undefeated powerhouse in the Group F of Santosh Trophy group stage round, paving their way to 77th national championship final round for the 2023-24 season. The group stage witnessed Maharashtra’s football virtuosos triumph in every encounter, showcasing a remarkable blend of precision, teamwork, and sheer determination.
The journey commenced with a resounding 8-0 victory against Andaman & Nicobar in the Santosh Trophy Group F opener, setting the tone for Maharashtra’s relentless pursuit of success. Lakshadweep succumbed to the football prowess of Maharashtra in the following match, with a convincing 4-0 win. Andhra Pradesh and Tripura faced similar fates, succumbing to Maharashtra’s dominance with respective scores of 6-0 and 3-1. The group stage campaign concluded with Telangana experiencing a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Maharashtra.
Buoyed by their stellar performance, Maharashtra now eagerly prepares for the final round. The stage is set in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, where the 77th Santosh Trophy’s final round promises a riveting display of footballing prowess from February 21 to March 9, 2024.
The fixture announcement on January 14, 2024, brought the final round matchups to light, with Maharashtra finding themselves in Group B alongside formidable opponents – Karnataka, Delhi, Manipur, Mizoram, and Railways. The tournament introduces an expanded knockout stage, where the top four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
Maharashtra’s journey in the final round kicks off on February 22, 2024, with a face-off against Mizoram at 7 pm IST.
The subsequent fixtures for Maharashtra in Group B are equally riveting:
| 22 February 2024 | Maharashtra vs Mizoram |
| 24 February 2024 | Maharashtra vs Manipur |
| 26 February 2024 | Railways vs Maharashtra |
| 29 February 2024 | Maharashtra vs Delhi |
| 2 March 2024 | Karnataka vs Maharashtra |
With the quarter-finals slated for March 4-5, followed by the semi-finals on March 7, the grand finale of the 77th Santosh Trophy is set to take place on March 9 at 7 pm IST.
