Santosh Trophy 2025-26: Nagaland holds Assam to a draw after a six-goal match

Ato Chopi’s late equalizer saw Nagaland hold hosts Assam to a 3-3 draw in a chaotic match in the final round of the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 at the Dhakukhana Stadium on Friday.

It was the first point for both sides in the final round of this season’s tournament, with Assam entering the match on the back of a 0-1 defeat to Tamil Nadu, while Nagaland was defeated 0-4 by defending champions West Bengal in the previous match.

Nagaland, who qualified for the final round of the Santosh Trophy for the first time this season, broke the deadlock when Laiwang Bohham found the net in the 27th minute.

However, Bodoland FC captain Didwm Hazowary took advantage of the opportunity for Assam and found the equalizer within twelve minutes.

After the restart the Nagas came out with full guns. And within nine minutes they were ahead.

S. Ayenmongba, who had drawn attention to the Dr. T. Ao Inter-District Football Championship 2025, got his name on the scoresheet this time.

But defensive lapses after scoring saw Nagaland get bitten again as Akrang Narzary restored parity just after the hour mark.

Assam tried to ride the late momentum and found a third goal from Timothi Narzary in the 76th minute. But Chopi’s goal eight minutes from time put the hosts back on level terms in a six-goal affair.

Nagaland will play Tamil Nadu on January 25 at the same venue, while Assam will lock horns with Uttarakhand in Silapathar later on the same day.

Later in the day, West Bengal will face Uttarakhand while Tamil Nadu will play Rajasthan.

Published on January 23, 2026