Kashmir go top after Kerala win
SRINAGAR: The fairytale run of Real Kashmir FC in the I-League continued as they defeated Gokulam Kerala FC by a solitary goal to go to the top of points table on Wednesday. The match was played at the TRC Ground in chilling conditions amid a mix of rain and snowfall with none of the teams willing to yield ground.
Ivorian striker Gnohere Krizo scored the all-important goal in the 51st minute to hand Real Kashmir full three points from the match. The win propelled the Jammu and Kashmir side to the top of the table with 32 points, dislodging Chennai City FC (30 points) who, however, have played two fewer games than Real Kashmir.
Chennai City will take on Indian Arrows on Friday while Real Kashmir will meet East Bengal at home on Sunday. Each team will play 20 matches in the league. It started snowing before the match and heavy rain lashed the ground later on. The two sides played a goalless first half as controlling the ball became difficult due to water-logging in many patches of the synthetic pitch.
Real Kashmir should have taken the lead in the first half but Krizo missed several easy chances. Mason Robertson, son of head coach David, who was playing behind Krizo in a 4-4-1-1 formation, also missed a couple of chances to score. However, it was Krizo who broke the deadlock after the break, pouncing on a rebound in front of the Gokulam goal in the 51st minute.
Local boy Farhan Ganiae saw his fierce shot from the top of the box stopped by Gokulam custodian Arnab Das but Krizo was well placed to tap in the rebound.
After taking the lead, Real Kashmir players relaxed a bit, allowing a window of opportunity for the Kerala team to push for the equaliser. While Kerala striker Marcus Joseph was wayward, Real Kashmir keeper Bilal Khan was in top form. Real Kashmir had a chance to double the lead in the 80th minute but Abednego Tetteh, who came on for Krizo in the 73rd minute, shot wide of Das’ right post from 15 yards.