Newcomers Gokulam Kerala go down fighting against Shillong Lajong.

by Intern November 27, 2017

In their debut in the I-League, newcomers Gokulam Kerala FC suffered a narrow loss against Shillong Lajong, in an  enthralling second game of I-League 2017-18 season.

The game kick-started, witnessing the early domination of the home side, and the visitor’s were seen floundering as the young Shillong side made the better of the pressure to the opponents. The newcomers to the league, however had time to battle with their opponents as the game went on. It was Alan Deory’s superb header that sealed the victory for the hosts.

The first chance of the game was on the 14th minute as Shillong’s shot from a short range was off to the target, but the Gokulam defenders made a goal-line save to keep the score card read 0-0 at Shillong. Gokulam could’ve scored their first goal in the league as their swirling corner met with a glancing header from Chigozie, but was denied from the goal-line by a defender.

Shillong’s youngster, Alan had an opportunity to open the card for the home side, but his clean through shot went wide off the post in the 29th minute.. Gokulam’s skipper, Sushant made a long range effort to test the keeper, but his shot was kept safe in the palms of the keeper. However, Shillong Lajong reacted with a wonderful counter-attempt, which saw Tlang clean through, but was unable to make the final touch.

The 55th minute of the game had seen Shillong’s wonderful free-kick swirling into the post, but was again straight into the palms of Gokulam’s custodian. Gokulam should have scored in the 63rd minute as Mbele oozed past defenders and was clean through, but the intervention of the keeper at the early thwarted the attempt. Samuel had n blinder off from the box, aiming the target, but the powerful shot was away from the mark. Minutes later, the same player had another brilliant delivery into the box, but Gokulam’s keeper was there up to the task.

Khaled alsaleh later made another shot off from the box, but was too wide. However, the stalemate of the game was broken at the 76th minute as Samuel’s swerving free-kick found the head of Alan, which went past the shield Nikhil had provided.

Since the goal, the trailing visitors applied big pressure on the home side, and employed the better they could perform to penetrate past the firm Shillong defense, but however, the attempts were all denied by them as the refree blew the whistle when the score card red 1-0 in favour of the hosts.

Despite performing a good game, it was not the result that Bingo George and his players might have expected, and it is not a good result to start with. Shillong Lajong has just received the award for their performance, and they are at the top of the table now.

Also Read: Minerva Punjab held Mohun Bagan in I-League opener

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