Excitement is reaching its peak in the domestic football scene as Mohammedan Sporting Club leads the I-League table. Two teams are battling fiercely to catch up with the Black Panthers and join the frontrunners. Last week saw Real Kashmir encountering an unfortunate setback, while Rajasthan United and Inter Kashi maintained their winning streaks. TRAU also made their mark in the arena, securing a victory despite being in a relegation spot. Now, let’s take a closer look at the outcomes of each encounter from the past week.
Rajasthan stamps down Neroca
Rajasthan United secured a dominant victory over Neroca, who are struggling in the league with their 10th consecutive loss, placing them at the bottom of the table. With only seven games remaining, Neroca faces the looming threat of relegation. In contrast, Rajasthan exhibited remarkable courage and quality, seizing victory while Neroca could only watch and endure defeat.
The latest addition, Marin Mudrazija, the Croatian talisman, scored his first hat-trick of the season. Richardson Denzell, RUFC’s top scorer with 10 goals this season, showcased his scoring prowess with a goal, while defender Sairuatkuma secured the 5-goal cushion for the Desert Warriors. David Singh scored the only consolation goal for Neroca as the match concluded with a dominating 5-1 victory at home for Rajasthan United.
TRAU grapples onto three points
TRAU have returned to the winning column after a four-game stretch, revitalizing their hopes of escaping the relegation zone with only six games remaining in the season. They secured victory against a weakened Namdhari team, which has struggled with inconsistency throughout the league, currently positioned 11th in the table. TRAU, trailing just one spot behind them, now has 10 points in their tally.
The game was cold, lacking any standout moments from either team. TRAU broke the deadlock with an own goal by Harmanjot Singh. Ghanian striker Issahak Nuhu Seidu extended their lead to 2-0 before halftime. Harmanpreet Singh, coming off the bench, scored his fifth goal of the season in the 77th minute, but it only served as a consolation as the game ended 1-2 in favor of the home side.
Read: I-League 2023/24 – Matchweek 20 Review
Mohammedan inches closer to the title
The Black Panthers have once again proven their authority in the league by fighting back against a courageous Churchill Brothers side, who were determined not to let the grip slip from the title contenders. The league leaders were rattled by the enthralling display of intense resilience shown by the Goan side, conceding a goal in the 10th minute from a long-range shot by Stendy Fernandes. Churchill utilized the sheer pace of their vibrant squad, which proved difficult for the Mohammedan defense to handle. However, Mohammedan managed to crawl their way back into the match, taking the lead before halftime through a brace from Eddie Hernandez.
Churchill fought hard and equalized the lead with a penalty scored by Martin Chavez in the 51st minute. However, their efforts were in vain as Lalremsanga breached their defense, securing three points for the Kolkata side. With this win, they are now eight points ahead of the second-placed team, with five rounds remaining and a total of 44 points. Meanwhile, Churchill sits in the seventh position with 23 points.
Inter Kashi too hot to handle for Delhi
Inter Kashi extends their unbeaten streak to seven games with a remarkable exhibition of attacking prowess, particularly evident in a dominant second half. Haobam Tomba Singh and Peter Hartley sealed the victory with goals in the 76th and 79th minutes, respectively. Hartley, the seasoned Englishman and team captain, guided Varanasi’s squad to a commanding win against a fatigued Delhi side.
The victory has propelled Inter Kashi to 5th place in the table, having amassed 33 points from 20 games. Delhi FC, meanwhile, who had found their rhythm mid-season, have once again faltered, succumbing to consecutive losses. This places them 9th in the table with 22 points from 19 games.
Real Kashmir faces setback with another draw
Shillong Lajong dealt Real Kashmir another blow, thwarting their climb up the league table and a shot at second place. Initially dominant, Real Kashmir, led by Ishfaq Ahmed, relinquished their lead to a spirited Shillong side. Shillong showcased captivating and aggressive football, turning the tables on Real Kashmir.
Real Kashmir drew first blood, with Adnan Ayub scoring in the 11th minute, skillfully converting a diagonal pass from Wayne Vaz. Despite having opportunities throughout the match, the Snow Leopards failed to maintain their lead. Shillong, determined to challenge the title contenders, equalized in added time through Renan Paulino, leaving Real Kashmir disappointed and the score leveled.
With that draw, the team from Kashmir is now 9 points behind the league leaders, Mohammedan, who have 35 points in 19 games. On the other hand, Shillong sits in the 6th position with 30 points obtained from 19 games.
Gokulam seize three points against tough Aizawl
Gokulam Kerala once again proved their worth as former champions, conquering the Aizawl team with incredible precision in front of the goal. From the outset, the Malabarians took the lead, but Aizawl struck back, shaking the Gokulam defense with a goal from Lalbiakdika Vanlalvunga.
However, Gokulam quickly retaliated, equalizing just nine minutes later through their Serbian striker, Matija Babovic, who joined the team in January. The team further upset Aizawl with another goal, this time from Serbian player Nikola Stojanovic, who unleashed a stunner from the left flank to take the lead. However, their advantage didn’t last long as an own goal equalized the game just before halftime.
The second half witnessed a significant shift as the home team aggressively pressed the Aizawl defense, resulting in two goals from Babovic in the 65th minute and a goal from substitute Pitu Viera, leading to a 4-2 scoreline in favor of the Malabarians.
Aizawl reduced the deficit to 4-3 courtesy of a goal from Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia, the tournament’s top Indian goal scorer with 11 goals. With this victory, Gokulam now holds the 3rd position with 36 points from 20 games, just above Real Kashmir. Aizawl, who began the league strongly, faltered in the later part, and currently sits in the 10th position with 21 points, narrowly avoiding the relegation zone.
Follow IFTWC for more news on Indian football.
