RAJESH’S LONE STRIKE HANDS GOKULAM WIN

KOZHIKODE: Rajesh S scored in the 60th minute to help Gokulam Kerala FC beat defending champions Minerva Punjab FC by a solitary goal in the I-league football tournament here on Sunday. The win, Gokulam’s second of the campaign, takes them to eight points from five games, five behind table toppers Chennai City FC and two clear of third placed Quess East Bengal. Minerva on the other hand, move down to the eighth position with four points from four games.

Bino George, the Gokulam coach fielded an unchanged starting eleven while Minerva’s Irish strategiest Paul Munster gave youngster Laltunmang Haokip a start in place of Moinuddin. Under-22haokipthough played for only first 30 minutes was replaced by Akash Sangwan thereafter.

With four forwards listed on the score sheet, Bino’s intentions were clear although Minerva’s Bala Dahir had the first shot at goal as early as the third minute. The hosts were quick to respond with a couple of quick attacks but all in all it was a half which lacked creativity in the attacking third throughout.

And this even after the humidity of Kozhikode was neutralised by a 21 minute break in between because of a malfunctioning floodlight.

The best chance of the first half came to Minerva’s Nigerian winger Donatus Edafe in the 44th minute when a wonderful cross from Souvik Das from the right flank found him with a freeheader but he missed the mark.

The second half was as insipid as the first and it was the visitors who looked more intent at finding a goal and were dominating the attacking play.

Quietly against the run of play, it was the home side who took the lead in the 60th minute through Rajesh. It was Suhair who started the move, playing on Gani Nigam inside the box on the right.

The youngster surged ahead and floated in a cross which beat Bhaskar Roy in the Minerva goal on the near post and Rajesh was there to meet it with a compact header.