IN TOP GEAR
With a win over NEROCA, Mohammedan SC now leads the I-league table after slip-ups by close challengers, Real Kashmir and Sreenidi Deccan.
In the I-league, Mohammedan SC went into the New Year’s break with a 2-1 win over NEROCA to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table. The Kolkata giant is on course to play in the Indian top flight for the first time since 2014. David Lalhlansanga, who is the club’s top-scorer this season, and Lalremsanga Fanai were among the goals as the Black Panthers capitalised on challengers Real Kashmir and Sreenidi Deccan slipping up.
After a run of five straight home games, Real Kashmir went down 0-1 in a closely fought encounter away to Delhi FC after a goal from Brazilian Hudson Dias, who made the most of an error from goalkeeper Shabir Khan. Real Kashmir faced another setback with the unfortunate passing of the club's founder and owner, Sandeep Chattoo, on New Year's Eve.
Sreenidi was undone at home by a first-half blitz from Gokulam
Kerala, led by Nili Perdomo and Alex Sanchez, as the Malabarians ended their six-game winless run with a 4-1 victory. The Deccan Warriors will join Gokulam, Shillong Lajong, Inter Kashi, and Rajasthan United to participate in the Super Cup in January.
IWL
Kickstart FC maintained its 100 per cent record with a 2-1 win over Sports Odisha (left), with Karishma Shirvoikar continuing to be among the goals. The Goan forward, who won the IWL twice with Gokulam in 2019-20 and 2021-22, now has six goals from three matches to top the scoring charts.
In what was a big test, Odisha FC beat defending champion Gokulam 2-0 at home after strikes from Pyari Xaxa and Lynda Kom Serto. Sethu FC overcame East Bengal in a 4-2 thriller with Priyangka Naorem scoring a brace in the second half.
Manchester United’s stuttering season seemed to have reached its nadir when it slumped to a two-goal deficit inside 30 minutes to Aston Villa in a high-profile Boxing Day Premier League fixture at home.
As it stood, Unai Emery’s Villa would have become an unlikely leader of the Premier League table, courtesy of goals from John Mcginn and Leander Dendoncker — both goals stemmed from United’s flat-footed defending from set pieces.
By the time the game cantered to the half-hour mark, United had clocked 400 goalless minutes across competitions, signalling a rot in performance that had put manager Erik ten Hag on the precipice of being unemployed going into the New Year.
But then, out of nowhere, the Red Devils remembered to be a top-level football team, again.
United’s attacking unit, disjointed and dysfunctional for weeks, clicked in unison. Marcus Rashford, Rasmus
Hojlund and Alejandro
Garnacho — guided by the mercurial Bruno
Fernandes — ravaged Villa’s defence, which had kept the offences of Manchester City and Arsenal at bay in previous matches.
However, a combination of inspired goalkeeping by Villa’s Emilano Martinez and tight offside calls ensured the visiting side retained its two-goal advantage at half-time.
Ten Hag’s side continued in the same vein in the second half, stitching up coordinated attacks, targeting the high defensive line of Villa.
The pressure eventually bore fruit as Garnacho tapped in a grounded cross from Rashford in the left flank to put the home side back into the game.
The Argentinian winger soon levelled the score with a left-footed finish — which deflected off a Villa defender — from inside the box following a cross from the right wing.
United pressed on for a winner with vigour and found it following a melee in the penalty box after a corner was whipped in. Hojlund rifled in a volley to find the back of the net for the first time in his Premier League career to put the Red Devils ahead in the game finally.
This win could potentially reignite a flailing season for United, while Villa rued missing a glorious opportunity going into 2024 as the Premier League leader.