JOIN USDefending champions Bengal defeated Karnataka 2-0 to set up a final clash with Kerala in the 72nd Santosh Trophy here on Friday.
Goals from captain Jiten Murmu and Tirthankar Sarkar in the second-half helped Bengal beat Karnataka at the Howrah Maidan Stadium.
Murmu broke the deadlock on the 57th minute while Sarkar made sure of a Bengal win in the second minute (90+2') of stoppage time, converting a free-kick that was won by the captain.
In the second semifinal at the Mohun Bagan ground, five-time champions Kerala rode on a 54th-minute strike by Afdal VK to oust Mizoram 1-0.
The last time Bengal and Kerala faced off in the final was in 1993-94, with the former winning 5-3 on penalties in Cuttack, after the score was tied 2-2 in regulation time.
Kerala last won the title in 2004-05 when they defeated Punjab 3-2 in New Delhi. This will be their first final appearance since 2012-13 when they lost to Services on penalties at home.
The final is at the Saltlake Stadium on April 1.
Kerala's only bright chance in the first half was Rahul KP's miss from the edge of the box on the volley.
A shoddy first-half show prompted coach Satheevan Balan to bring in striker Afdal VK for an ineffective Sajith Poulose.
That substitution paid immense dividends nine minutes after the change of ends. Collecting the ball from a diagonal pass, Jithin MS made a darting run from the right and cut in to dodge past two men before finding Rahul KP. Goalkeeper Laltanpuia Ralte parried Rahul's attempt but Afdal pounced on the rebound and slotted the ball home to give Kerala the lead against the run of play.
Even though Mizoram dominated in all departments of the game, poor finishing frustrated them. Mizoram were also without their coach Lalsangzuala Hmar, who was serving a one-game suspension.