J&K’s 1st ever I League game ends in draw as 10-man Churchill hold Real Kashmir

by Chittu Shetty November 6, 2018

10-man Churchill Brothers held Real Kashmir FC to a creditable goalless draw, as history was made at Srinagar’s TRC ground, with the first-ever Hero I-League game taking place in the state of Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday.

The two-time former champions from Goa had their goalkeeper James Kithan sent off just before half-time but held on gamely and in fact even had the last chance of the game. They remain unbeaten in their first three games, all of them away from home. Scottish coach David Robertson’s home side will feel an opportunity was lost to register a second successive win in their debut campaign, having won the opener against defending champions Minerva Punjab away from home.

It was end to end football in brilliant sunshine, but chances were few and far between in the first half. Danish Farooq hit the bar for the hosts as early as the seventh minute. Then Churchill’s Israil Gurung broke away on the left flank in the 13th minute and his cross found Langshing with a free header inside the box but his effort went just over the bar.

Krizo was also making his presence felt with some aggressive runs down the middle and putting Eldor and Novakovic under considerable pressure. He rose for a header in the 37th minute but the weak effort lobbed over the Churchill bar. Willis Plaza broke free on the right side of the Kashmir box and his shot missed the far post, not by much.

The incident of the first half which changed the game completely happened just before the end. Nenad Novakovic under constant pressure from Krizo fumbled a back pass inside his own half on to the path of Aaron Katebe who went off on a run with just the goalkeeper in front of him. James Kithan, in the Churchill goal, sensed the danger and rushed out of his box to thwart Katebe. The Zambian tried to go around him, but a falling Kithan in the heat of the moment inadvertently stopped the ball with his hand and was promptly sent off.

Churchill ended the half honours even, but with 10 men on the pitch, Vigneshwaran ‘Vicky’ Bhaskaran now in goal, brought on in place of Langshing. In the second half, Churchill sat deep but the hosts embarked upon a strategy to try and find Krizo with long balls from the deep defence. Their second option was to penetrate down the middle.

Krizo did hit the bar once in the 65th minute after breaking into the box, this time from the left and unleashing a wonderful right-footed curler. The other opportunity was when Katebe and Danish Farooq played a 1-2 on the right and the latter’s shot from inside the box was saved by Vicky in the Churchill goal.

Churchill had the last chance of the game when Dawda Cessay got onto a free-kick halfway between the goal and the right corner flag. His floater was good but could not find the head of a Churchill player. Churchill now have three points from their three draws while Real Kashmir have picked up their fourth point after their second game.

Real Kashmir will now host Neroca FC on November 11, 2018.

Also Read: Pune City’s Diego Carlos suspended to two additional matches; fined Rs 2 Lakh

Also Read: Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC: ISL’s biggest rivalry – where it all began

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updated on Mumbai & Indian Football