Kerala continued their spectacular run in the final round of the Santosh Trophy with a 3-0 win over Delhi at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad on Sunday. Coincidentally, playing simultaneously, Kerala Blasters won their home match against Mohammedan SC in Kochi, by the same margin.

Naseeb Rahman (16), Joseph Justin (32) and Shijin T (40) were among the goalscorers for Biby Thomas' Kerala. The state side had already qualified for the quarterfinals with a hat-trick of wins in the final round (4-3 vs Goa, 1-0 vs Meghalaya and 2-0 vs Odisha).

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Midfielder Nijo Gilbert, who was used as a second-half substitute against Odisha, provided all three assists. He found Naseeb with a through pass, and the exciting attacker finished near post.

Justin headed home a free header from Nijo's corner as Kerala raced to a 2-0 lead shortly after half-an-hour. Kerala sealed the win with a brilliant counterattack that started with goalkeeper Hajmal S, who found Nijo on the right. The playmaker found Shijin with a low cross, and the striker poked it in.

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