Gokulam Kerala FC team continued their renaissance, winning their second game on the trot with a narrow 1-0 victory over Dempo Sports Club in the I-League.
Gokulam are now unbeaten in the last four matches with two wins and as many draws, and climb to fourth on the table. Dempo meanwhile continue their miserable run of form, the loss their third in as many games.
Dempo had to field a weaker starting XI due to injuries and player departures. In a high-octane first half, it was Dempo who had the first clear chance to race into a lead, as early as the seventh minute of the game. Pruthvesh Pednekar’s cross from the right wing was met perfectly by Shubham Rawat. The forward’s volley bounced off the crossbar, and goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunniyil’s shoulder, to safety.
From there, Gokulam seized control of the game. First, Adama Niane, having been played into space by Sergio Llamas, lashed a shot from outside the box only to see it bounce off the post.
A few minutes later, it was Ignacio Loyola’s turn, to have a go, and the Spaniard shot from outside the box again, the ball taking a huge deflection and heading seemingly towards goal. Despite being wrong-footed, Ashish Sibi adjusted brilliantly to palm it away.
In the 42nd minute, Niane missed what was perhaps the best opportunity of the half, after Loyola had brilliantly squared the ball with a header inside the six-yard box. The forward merely needed to connect properly with the ball and direct it to the goal to give Gokulam the lead. He didn’t do either and instead ended up eventually fouling the goalkeeper, earning a card for his troubles.
Dempo closed the half as they began, with a brilliant attempt that forced Shibinraj into yet another save. This chance came from a free-kick that Rawat curled through the wall. Shibinraj saw it late but dove to his right to palm it away.
Sibi’s heroics kept Dempo in the game through the second half too, his double save in the 51st minute of the second half off a dangerously dipping shot from Loyola — a key moment of the game. Gokulam kept creating chances, but an inability to finish added to their frustration as time wore on. If half of the chances would have been converted, it would have been a goal-fest for Gokulam Kerala. Dempo’s resolve was finally broken in the 86th minute, when half-time substitute Martin Chaves danced into the box, dribbled to the byline, and cut the ball back to the penalty spot.
Abhijith K, who had been brought on just two minutes prior, smashed it into the roof of the net. Dempo had one last chance to get something from the game, but Rawat dragged Laximanrao Rane’s cutback wide from five yards away.
This hard-fought away win will boost the confidence of the Malabarians, however, Antonio Reuda has so many headaches to solve. The strikers who showed promise in the last game, once again disappointed despite getting an ample number of opportunities. The table toppers Churchill Brothers are just three points away, however even the Delhi FC, currently positioned at 10th are just 4 points behind.
