Sreekuttan scoring the match-winner for Gokulam in opposition to Rajasthan United.
| Photo Credit: Sakeer Hussain
Gokulam Kerala FC saved its excellent home record intact with a 1-Zero win over Rajasthan United FC in a Hero I league match on the Payyanad Stadium on Monday. The third win at home took Gokulam FC.’s factors tally to 14 and to the second spot within the desk.
After being outplayed within the first half, Gokulam shrugged off its passiveness within the second and scored off its first incisive transfer.
But the match-winner got here in opposition to the run of play as Gokulam broke away with a swift counter-attack within the 51st minute. V.S. Sreekuttan entered the field, hoodwinked his challenger Melroy Melwin and crashed a shot into the highest of the web.
The aim set the template for remainder of the match for Gokulam, which waited for probabilities to counter-attack as Rajasthan looked for the elusive equaliser. The Gokulam defence was higher organised within the second half to keep off the risk from Rajasthan.
The customer should be ruing the possibilities it missed within the first half when it was clearly the higher aspect. Showing higher adaptability on a soggy pitch, Rajasthan chalked out promising strikes that compelled the host to be defensive.
Early within the first half, Bektur Amangeldiev compelled a superb save from Gokulam goalkeeper Shibinraj, who punched out the stinging shot for a nook. Uruguayan Martin Chaves, who proved to be a continuing nuisance to the Gokulam defence on the correct flank, fizzed a shot over the aim from shut within the 20th minute.
However, Gokulam ended the first-half strongly with its Cameroon striker Boum Somilaga’s reverse kick inducing a superb save from Rajasthan ‘keeper A.S. Vishal.
The outcome: Gokulam Kerala FC 1 (V.S. Sreekuttan 51) bt Rajasthan United FC 0.