Indian football witnessed another exciting I-League match week as the league inches closer to its penultimate stage. The pressure is mounting on the teams at the top of the table as the title is now for Mohammedan’s to lose, despite a draw this week. Sreenidi and Gokulam, unfortunately, dropped points, further solidifying Mohammedan’s position at the top and making the final outcome slightly more predictable, unlike earlier in the season, save for some last-minute dramatic turnarounds. Neroca and Namdhari, on the other hand, have found their winning form again. Let’s delve into the highlights of the latest round of matches.
Namdhari’s second-half goals sink Rajasthan
The day favored the Punjab team as they secured a win against the resilient Rajasthan United side, who had been undefeated in six consecutive matches. The Namdhari team displayed courage and a fighting spirit, earning three points with two second-half goals. The first half saw little action from both sides, but Namdhari’s Manvir Singh broke the deadlock in the 64th minute. Then, in the 78th minute, their Spanish striker, Ivan Garrido, sealed the victory with an impressive goal.
With the win, Namdhari is now placed 10th on the table with 23 points, leading Aizawl by three games. Rajasthan retains its 8th spot, ahead of Churchill Brothers FC.
Rowing the boat in style, Inter Kashi
Inter Kashi is enjoying a remarkable run, boasting an unbeaten streak of 9 games and a winning streak of 3 matches, which has firmly placed them in the spotlight of the Indian football community, despite being debutants. They have demonstrated their quality and winning formula by overcoming Shillong, who was notably vulnerable.
The victory was commanding, marked by two goals in the first half, courtesy of their Spanish talisman Mario Barco, who scored his 11th goal of the season and contributed to 23 goals overall, followed by a goal from defender Tejas just before halftime. Although Shillong managed to pull one goal back through a penalty from Renan Paulino in the 55th minute, Inter Kashi maintained control of the game, displaying excellent perseverance and securing all three points.
Inter Kashi is now ahead of former champions Gokulam Kerala and Real Kashmir on the table, having secured 39 points from 22 games played. Meanwhile, Shillong stands in 6th position with 31 points.
Title hopes fade away for Real Kashmir
In what was meant to be a do-or-die match, Real Kashmir lost their hopes of possibly securing the I-League title. Meanwhile, Mohammedan managed to earn a valuable point, inching closer to the coveted league title and promotion to the Indian Super League. Led by Ishfaq Ahmed, the Snow Leopards failed to strike the winning chord in their last four games, settling for draws in each.
Read: I-League 2023/24 – Matchweek 21 Review
The game unfolded in two halves. The first half saw both teams canceling each other out, with only one or two chances materializing for either side. The second half, however, witnessed a more open-ended affair. Real Kashmir pressed desperately for a win, while Mohammedan held on for at least one point. Ultimately, the match ended in a draw, favoring the away side.
The draw has altered the standings’ complexion as Mohammedans solidified their first-place position with 48 points, with only Sreenidi lurking close behind. Meanwhile, Real Kashmir finds themselves in fourth place with 37 points.
Delhi shocks Gokulam Kerala
The Malabarians lacked hunger and desire as they lost to Delhi, with Brazilian striker Sergio Barboza scoring twice in the second half. The turning point came when Gokulam’s Mashoor received a red card in the 40th minute. Delhi capitalized on the man advantage, securing three points away from home against the former champions.
In the first half, Gokulam Kerala had several chances, with their wingers Sreekuttan and Abhijith consistently threatening the Delhi defense. However, they failed to convert these opportunities. The game shifted in Delhi FC’s favor when Sergio Barboza entered the field and swiftly breached the home side’s defense, scoring his first goal just four minutes after coming on in the 59th minute. He completed his brace in the 87th minute, securing three points for Delhi FC on the road.
The victory has propelled Delhi to secure the 7th position, trailing Shillong by just two points. Gokulam, now in 5th place, falls behind Real Kashmir with 36 points.
Squandered opportunity for Sreenidi
Sreenidi Deccan squandered their opportunity to ascend the ladder towards the title, settling for a draw against Churchill Brothers despite initially securing a two-goal lead in the first half. Sreenidi displayed clear dominance, swiftly opening the scoring in the 4th minute through William Oliviera and adding another goal in the 39th-minute courtesy of Lalromawia, outclassing Churchill in all areas of the field.
Churchill Brothers had limited opportunities throughout the game, with Sreenidi maintaining an edge even in the second half. However, fortunes shifted in favor of the Goan side when Sreenidi goalkeeper Albino Gomes failed to handle a long-range attempt from Stendly Fernandes, allowing Churchill to open their scoring account in the 83rd minute. Subsequently, Sreenidi’s defense faltered, committing repeated errors that allowed Lamgoulen Semkholun to capitalize and equalize, ultimately concluding the match in a draw.
The draw has hindered Sreenidi’s chances of fighting for the title. They now need to win all their remaining games, and Mohammedan has to drop points. Meanwhile, Churchill is currently in 10th position in the table, tied with Aizawl FC on 21 points.
Neroca victorious against hapless TRAU
In a showdown between two teams battling relegation and occupying the bottom two spots on the table, Neroca claimed victory over a depleted TRAU side. The first half lacked notable action, with all the goals pouring in during the second half. Neroca pushed hard after halftime, earning themselves an early penalty just three minutes in. Ansumana Kromah, the Liberian striker, converted the penalty in the 48th minute, securing Neroca the lead.
Lourembam David Singh extended the lead to two with his fourth goal of the season in the 65th minute. However, TRAU fought back desperately, with Telem Suranjit Singh scoring a goal to narrow the margin. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Neroca.
The victory doesn’t alter Neroca’s standing; they remain in 12th place with 13 points, while TRAU sits at the bottom of the table with 10 points.
Aizawl’s goal fest
Aizawl FC stunned Churchill Brothers, who recently disappointed title contenders Sreenidi but now suffered a 4-0 loss against the young and vibrant Aizawl side. Churchill started the game with intent but failed to convert chances, while Aizawl capitalized on theirs, opening the scoring chart in the 29th minute through a fascinating display of individual prowess by Laldanmawia, elegantly finished off by Lalrinzuala.
The game flipped entirely as Aizawl relentlessly attacked Churchill’s defense with teamwork, leading to goals. Lalthankhuma extended the lead by tapping in a goal from a corner kick. Aizawl scored again within two minutes, with Lalthankhuma and Lalrinzuala each completing a brace, sealing the game in style.
The much-needed win provides breathing space for Aizawl. They’ve secured 24 points in 20 games, positioning themselves 9th. Churchill, on the other hand, also has 24 points but with a negative goal difference and an extra game played.
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