Gokulam stun Bagan for title
Kolkata, Aug. 24: Trinidadian forward Marcus Joseph led by example with a brace to inspire Gokulam Kerala FC to Durand Cup title in their debut campaign with a 2-1 win over 16-time champions Mohun Bagan at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
Joseph converted a penalty in the 45+1st minute and doubled the lead with his menacing left-footer in the 51st minute. Terribly let down by their defence especially in the first-half, the Mariners stepped up the attack after the changeover and pulled one back through Salva Chamorro header from a Joseba Beitia free-kick in the 64th minute.
Three minutes left on the clock, Kerala were down to 10 players when Jestin George was shown a second yellow card for a terrible tackle on Kima. But their defence managed to hold on to their slender lead despite the numerical disadvantage clinch the Asia's oldest football tournament for Kerala for the first time after 22 years.
FC Kochin were the previous and the only Kerala club that won the trophy before while Viva Kerala, had participated in the tournament in 2007 only to exit in the league stages.
It was a tale of sorry state of defence led by Fran Morante as they crumbled under pressure especially when the ball came to Joseph and Henry Kisekka, who played for Mohun Bagan last season.
Mohun Bagan had better possession, more shots on target but failed to convert any as they went into the half-time conceding a stoppage time (45+1st) goal by Marcus. The Mariners last won the third oldest tournament of the world way back in 2000 defeating Mahindra United 2-1 by a golden goal from RC Prakash.