Having played 17 games each this season, Gokulam Kerala FC who started on a bright note, have somehow lost their sheen and now sit in the tenth place with 14 points while former champions Aizawl FC have just a point advantage coming into the game tomorrow.

The game is scheduled for a 3:30 PM Kick-off.

Gokulam Kerala FC would also aim to come out winning against Aizawl FC in their return leg, after having lost 2-3 to the formers champions in their first encounter this season.

Gift Raikhan would look to utilize his strengths to ensure they walk away with all the three points. While Aizawl FC would be brimming with confidence after having played a highly entertaining 1-1 draw to title contenders Quess East Bengal in their last encounter in Kolkata.

Gokulam have been playing attacking football ever since the appointment of their new technical director Gift Raikhan. Their new striker Marcus Joseph has really showcased his worth scoring four goals in six games while assisting in three important goals as well.

Gokulam Kerala Coach Gift Raikhan said, “Tomorrow is a very very crucial match for us and for them. We have already planned how we will be winning three points. By hook or by crook, anyhow and Tomorrow match for us will be like “one stepping stone” for us. We have already made our objective and the strategy for tomorrow match with the boys. We are ready to fight tomorrow for three points.”

Gokulam’s Indian talents Arun Jayaraj, Suhair VP and Pritam Singh have safely dominated the midfield but have lacked the creative finishing in the final third. What will be a matter of concern for Gift Raikhan is their defence, which has been struggling for quite sometime now.

On the other hand, Aizawl FC will look to quickly get to their act together after having an impressive run before, if they want to harbor any hopes to be saved from relegation.

Coach Stanley Rozario will need to address to the team’s goal scoring skills to encourage his players for one major push towards securing a win. He would be banking heavily on his front men – Ivorian Zikahi Dodoz, Liberian Ansumana Kromah and local talent Mapuia to fire for the team.

However, the defence is what should be a concern for the former champions as well, which lacks experience and have been shaky times and again. Aizawl FC coach Stanley Rozario, “Now, I am focusing after I have taken the charge.The boys are talented and improving.They are gelling with my tactics and philosophies.”

“This match is vital for both the teams because we are ninth and they are on tenth. Both the teams are fighting for relegation. We will continue in the same spirit and hope. We are going to look forward for good result and hoping to score the three points.”

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Rahul K.P. scored for Arrows in the first half. Trinidadian striker Marcu Leric Joseph’s second half goal denied Arrows a repeat result of the previous leg. It was his fourth goal in as many games.

The game was a dour affair as both teams played without inspiration. The fact that both teams are already out of the reckoning for the title must have contributed to it.

Gokulam is 10th in the league table after 16 games and Arrows is on seventh after 18 games.

Floyd Pinto’s Arrows made four changes to their starting XI from the previous game. They brought back Prabhsukan Gill in goal for Samik Mitra who had started in the game against Chennai.

Deepak Tangri, Rahim Ali and Rahul KP replaced Jitendra Singh, Suresh Singh, and Ninthoi in the playing XI.

Gokulam under the tutelage of Technical Director Gift Raikhan made only one change, with Suhair replacing Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Castro.

Arrows withstood early pressure from Gokulam and took the lead in the 22nd minute through Rahul K.P.

Ashish Rai delivered the cross from the right flank to Rahim Ali positioned inside the box, wide on the left. Rahim brought down a cushioned header towards Rahul, who made a run from the middle of the box. The ball landed to Rahul who had to check his run with his back towards goal. He swiveled and volleyed on the turn to beat keeper Arnab Das Sharma all ends up.

Arrows took the one-goal lead into the break.

Gokulam got the equalizer in the 64th minute through Joseph — the top scorer of the Trinidadian pro-league.

Substitute Arjun Jayaraj made the initial foray with a run down the left of the box. His ball intended for Marcus was cut-off by the Arrows defence. It came back off a defender and fell to Joseph who drilled the ball home with a left-footed strike.

Fabian denied Arrows the second goal in the 70th minute with a brilliant goalline save.

Joseph — the ‘Hero of the Game’ — missed a golden chance to win the game in the dying moments.

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It may be noted that the title aspirations of both teams are long gone. The game kicks off at 5 pm IST.

Gokulam missed their earlier game against Aizawl FC at Kozhikode after being stuck in Srinagar due to heavy snowfall. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has rescheduled the game for February 28 at the same venue.

Arrows had beaten Gokulam 1-0 in the previous leg thanks to Amarjit Singh Kiyam’s goal.

The home team is currently in 10th spot having garnered 12 points from their 15 games so far. Despite reining in Gift Raikhan as Technical Director, they have not been able to get back to winning ways. They last won a game almost three months back!

Arrows, on the other hand, have bounced back from early losses and are in a respectable seventh position on the table. They have five wins to go with 11 losses and a draw.

Gokulam gained two points in their last six games. It came after four straight losses! In their previous game, they lost to Real Kashmir in chilling weather conditions amid a mix of rain and snowfall.

The only silver lining for Gokulam in recent times has been Marcus Joseph, the top scorer of the Trinidadian pro-league. He scored twice for his new club in four games.

Precocious talents like Rajesh, Arjun Jayaraj, VP Suhair, Gani Nigam and Baoringdao Bodo should help them get a positive result on Saturday.

Raikhan had a clear objective in mind at the pre-game presser: “We will be playing a home match tomorrow. It is a vital match for us as we need three points. We have prepared ourselves for tomorrow’s match and the boys are ready with full motivation. Tactically, physically and mentally, we are ready for tomorrow’s match. We have five matches remaining in our hand one is away and four at home. We will collect as many points as we can and try to be in the top six so that we can go directly to the Super Cup.”

Arrows have steadily improved and it has resulted in growing confidence levels. Although they lost 2-0 against Chennai City in their previous game, they made the league leaders sweat for the full 90 minutes. Sandro’s moment of brilliance turned the game in Chennai’s favor.

Their coach Floyd Pinto expressed confidence at the press conference: “Expecting a similar kind of match and hoping to get the same result as last year. We are going to work really hard. We aim to finish as high as we can in the table. If we can get any points from tomorrow’s match it will help us. We are in the 7th position, but we have played more matches. We have three matches left and we will try to give our best. The boys have kept improving and they are more comfortable this season. Most of our games have been fine margins.”

A good game is on cards as both teams look eager to improve their respective positions in the league table.

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