Mancheri: Gokulam Kerala FC made a stunning comeback in the I-League with their third consecutive home win at Payyanad Stadium. Malabarians finished second in the points league with a 1-0 win against Rajasthan United FC in front of their home crowd on Monday night. Playing across the board, Rajasthan lined up in the first half, but Gokulam came back strongly in the second half to clinch the victory.
In the 51st minute, Vishwastharam VS Sreekuttan’s brilliant goal saw the home side claim their second successive I-League victory. Gokulam, fourth in the league going into the match, fell behind Real Kashmir with four wins from seven matches.
The weak half…
In the first half, Rajasthan United, devastated from the start of the match, fired several shots at Gokulam’s post. Rajasthan has consistently tested the Gokulam defense with a series of good moves. The hosts went out of the first half without even a shot.
Rajasthan won five corners. In the 33rd minute, Rajasthan PM’s Malayali midfielder Bektur Ammagaldiyev sent Brito’s cross onto the Gokulam post, but the goalkeeper saved. Brito and William Pauling played hard for Rajasthan but saw no results.
In the 19th minute, Rajasthani star Martin Nicholas’s bullet shot flew over Gokulam’s net. On 23′ Agustin Jr. Bausolang fails to capitalize on the excellent cross provided by Shrukutan. In the second half of the first half, Rajasthan made a lot of breakthroughs.
A flying second time
In the second half we saw Kerala team having more energy. Gokulam took the lead against Rajasthan early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Munnetra VS Sreekutan player battled one-on-one through the left wing and fired a shot which left three Rajasthani players and goalkeeper as spectators and rocked Rajasthan’s net. The goal hit the crossbar over the post and went into one of the best goals in the league.
Rajasthan tried to counter-attack but Gokulam defense held with great strength. In the 55th minute, Gokulam players Srikuttan and Shijin had open scoring opportunities but could not reach the goal. In the 49th minute, a nice shot by the midfielder of Rajasthan was deflected by Gokulam’s goalkeeper. Rajasthan’s “equal level” was lost.
