In a contest that remained finely balanced throughout, both sides showed attacking intent but struggled to find the finishing touch. Gokulam Kerala made a bright start, with Thabiso Nelson Brown testing Rajasthan’s goalkeeper Bhabindra Malla Thakuri early on, while also enjoying more of the ball in the opening stages.

Rajasthan gradually grew into the game and began to create opportunities of their own. Amadou Soukouna was at the heart of their attacking play, first setting up Jonathan Fernandes before testing the goalkeeper himself with a curling effort. The hosts came closest just before the break, with Soukouna striking the crossbar and Fernandes seeing his acrobatic attempt denied, as Gokulam’s defence held firm.

The second half continued in a similar fashion, with chances at both ends but no breakthrough. Gokulam came close through substitute Benjamin Thomas Kuku, only for Malla Thakuri to produce a crucial save. Rajasthan responded with renewed attacking intent, as Thomyo Shimray and Isaac Nortey looked to unlock the defence.

With the match seemingly heading towards a stalemate, the decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time. Substitute Naoba Meitei cut in from the left and fired a right-footed strike towards the near post, catching the goalkeeper off guard and sending the home crowd into celebration.

Gokulam Kerala pushed forward in the closing seconds in search of an equaliser, but Rajasthan United held their ground to secure a hard-fought victory. The result lifts Rajasthan to second place in the standings, marking a crucial step in their campaign.

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The visitors controlled proceedings from the outset, enjoying the majority of possession and dictating the tempo of the game. Despite their dominance, Aizawl FC remained disciplined at the back in the first half, limiting clear chances and keeping Diamond Harbour’s attacking threats in check.

Aizawl gradually grew into the game towards the end of the first half, creating a few half-chances of their own, but neither side could break the deadlock before the interval.

The breakthrough came soon after the restart in the 47th minute. A defensive lapse from Aizawl allowed Moyano to capitalise, as he collected the loose ball and calmly finished past the goalkeeper to give Diamond Harbour the lead.

The hosts tried to respond and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but struggled to create clear opportunities against a well-organised defence.

Diamond Harbour sealed the win in the 77th minute with a well-worked move. Bryce Miranda made an excellent run past multiple defenders before setting up Moyano, who finished into an empty net to complete his brace and double the advantage.

The visitors maintained control in the closing stages, comfortably seeing out the game despite a lengthy period of added time. Aizawl failed to pose any real threat late on as Diamond Harbour secured a dominant away victory and continued their strong momentum.

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The hosts took control of the game early and found the breakthrough just before the 20-minute mark. Moses Lalrinzuala showcased individual brilliance, weaving past two defenders before drilling a low left-footed strike into the net to give Gokulam the lead.

Gokulam continued to dominate possession and looked the more threatening side going forward. They came close to doubling their advantage through Trijoy Das and Thabiso Brown, with the latter seeing his header crash against the crossbar. At the other end, Dempo struggled to break through a well-organised defence, with their best chance comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunniyil.

The second half saw Gokulam maintain control, though Dempo had a chance to stay in the game when the hosts were awarded a penalty early after the restart. However, Ashish Sibi produced a fine save to deny Brown from the spot.

Despite that setback, Gokulam continued to push forward and eventually sealed the result in the closing stages. Mirjalol Kasimov won a penalty himself and stepped up to convert it emphatically, smashing the ball into the top corner to make it 2–0.

Dempo showed some late urgency in stoppage time, creating a few chances, but Shibinraj stood firm with key saves to preserve the clean sheet.

A composed and dominant display ensured Gokulam Kerala walked away with all three points, marking an important milestone in their campaign.

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Sreenidi dominated possession from the start, controlling the tempo and creating several openings, but struggled to convert their chances. Despite having the majority of the ball, the hosts lacked the finishing touch in the final third.

Against the run of play, Namdhari took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 31st minute. Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, Manvir Singh unleashed an audacious strike from inside his own half, sending the ball soaring into the net to give the visitors a surprise lead at half-time.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Sreenidi applying constant pressure in search of an equaliser. David Castañeda came close on multiple occasions, including a header that narrowly missed the target.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute. A corner from Brandon Vanlalremdika caused confusion in the box, and Hadi Idrissou reacted quickest to finish and bring the hosts level.

Sreenidi pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages, but missed key opportunities, including a one-on-one chance and a late header that struck the post. Namdhari goalkeeper Niraj Kumar made crucial saves, while the defence stood firm under intense pressure.

In the end, Namdhari held on to secure a valuable away point, while Sreenidi Deccan were left to settle for a draw despite dominating large parts of the game.

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The match began at a high tempo, with both teams creating early chances and forcing important saves from the goalkeepers. Shillong’s Siwel Rymbai was called into action multiple times as Chanmari looked dangerous in attack.

The hosts took the lead in the 16th minute through Christo Kamei, who curled in a stunning free-kick from distance after a foul on Aaron, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Chanmari continued to dominate possession and looked the more threatening side for most of the first half.

However, Shillong Lajong found a way back just before the break. In first-half stoppage time, Everbrightson Sana’s run into the box resulted in a penalty after a mistimed challenge from the goalkeeper. Buam stepped up and smashed the spot-kick off the underside of the crossbar and into the net to level the scores at 1–1.

Chanmari resumed the second half on the front foot, creating several chances but failing to convert. Their missed opportunities proved costly as Shillong gradually grew into the game, especially after introducing fresh attacking options.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. Substitute Jakob delivered a precise cross from the left, and Buam timed his run perfectly to finish past the goalkeeper in the 90+5th minute, completing a remarkable turnaround.

Shillong Lajong held on in the final moments to secure all three points, with Buam’s brace guiding them to a crucial victory.

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The match started in perfect fashion for Diamond Harbour as they struck within the opening minutes. Luka Majcen reacted quickest after Antonio Moyano’s initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Siwel Rymbai, calmly slotting home the rebound in the second minute to give the visitors an early lead.

Diamond Harbour doubled their advantage soon after with another well-worked attacking move. Hugo Díaz released Jobby Justin down the right wing, and the captain delivered a low cross into the six-yard box. Majcen timed his run perfectly and finished neatly at the near post to make it 2–0.

Shillong Lajong responded positively and began to grow into the game with their attacking style of play. The hosts came close to pulling one back in the first half when Everbrightson Sana rose high to meet a cross, but a combination of Dheeraj Singh’s fingertips and the crossbar denied him.

The home side eventually reduced the deficit early in the second half with a swift counterattack. Everbrightson Sana started the move before releasing Gladdy Kharbuli, who showed great composure to beat the goalkeeper and make it 2–1.

From that point onwards, Shillong Lajong controlled large spells of the match, pushing forward in search of an equaliser. Sana had two big opportunities to level the scores, while Melroy Assisi produced a crucial goal-line clearance to keep Diamond Harbour ahead.

Despite heavy pressure from the hosts, Diamond Harbour remained resilient at the back and even threatened on the counter late in the game, with Sunday Afolabi striking the crossbar and Moyano testing the goalkeeper in stoppage time.

In the end, Diamond Harbour held on to their narrow lead to secure their second consecutive victory of the season and move up the table.

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Aizawl FC return to their home ground after beginning their campaign with a 1-1 draw away against Namdhari SA. The former 2016-17 champions showed a clear tactical approach in that match, with head coach Lalruatfela setting up a midfield-heavy system and deploying Zomuansanga as the lone striker. However, defensive lapses late in the game allowed Namdhari to score an injury-time equaliser.

Ahead of the home fixture, Lalruatfela emphasised the team’s preparations during the week, highlighting improvements in teamwork, discipline, finishing, and set-piece routines. He also spoke about the significance of playing in front of the passionate Mizoram supporters, noting that the energy from the home crowd provides additional motivation for the team.

Captain Lalhriatpuia echoed the coach’s confidence, stating that the squad has worked hard in training and feels both physically and mentally prepared to deliver a strong performance in front of their fans.

Rajasthan United FC arrive in Aizawl with a similar start to their campaign, having also secured a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Shillong Lajong FC. In that game, the Jaipur-based side showed resilience after conceding early. Abhishek Ambekar eventually rescued a point with a composed finish in the second half following a scramble inside the penalty area.

Assistant coach Vikas Rawat expressed optimism about the team’s progress since the opening match, noting that the players have taken valuable lessons from the first game and are focused on executing their plans more effectively in the upcoming fixture.

Rajasthan captain Bhabindra Malla Thakuri also outlined the team’s approach, stating that they aim to play possession-based attacking football while pushing for all three points.

The visitors will take confidence from their historical record against Aizawl FC. In seven previous league meetings between the two sides, Rajasthan United have won three matches compared to Aizawl’s one, while three encounters have ended in draws. Rajasthan also hold a slight edge in the overall goal tally between the two teams.

With both sides sitting on a single point early in the season, the encounter promises to be an intense contest. Aizawl FC will look to make a strong impression in their first home match of the campaign, while Rajasthan United will aim to continue their positive record against the hosts and secure their first win of the season.

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Yes, you heard us right. Within one year from its inception, RUFC won the R-League. Continuing their winning habits, Rajasthan United FC secured a top spot in the recently concluded I-League 2021 qualifiers.

They remained unbeaten throughout the qualifying campaign. To everyone’s surprise, RUFC paved the way by defeating heavyweight teams like Delhi FC, Bengaluru United and the likes.

In an already impressive arsenal of their foreign players, RUFC recently added Fabiano Alves from Brazil. Previously, they signed former ISL golden boot winner Marcelinho (Brazil), ex Mohun Bagan forward Komron Tursunov (Tajikistan), and centre forward Diego Bielkiewicz (Argentina).

RUFC majorly banks upon young Indian players who are yet to reach their potential. Their roster includes players like Ravi Kumar Punia, Abhishek Ambekar, Bhaskar Roy, Aman Chhetri (part of the India U17 squad), to name a few. They have Gyamar Nikum, the 16-year-old wonderboy from Arunachal Pradesh who now holds the record for being the youngest to play in I-League qualifiers. Their Goalkeeper Vishal Joon has been brilliant in qualifiers and kept a clean sheet in each of the three final round games of I League qualifiers. With their solid defence, RUFC would be counting on players like Marcelinho and Komron Tursonov for being fearless on the attack side.

Speaking to Footballcounter, the team co-owner Rajat Mishra shared his thoughts ahead of the season. Rajat said that “the team firmly believes in having a clear ground vision”. The team management is always looking for a balanced mixture of young guns with experienced playmakers.

Rajat highlighted the importance of discipline in the player training sessions and their nutrition. The humane touch within the system is equally important. He also mentioned that “RUFC is not afraid of experimenting in its game strategy”.

RUFC is all gearing up under the guidance of Francesc Bonet (Head coach). They must be looking forward to emulating their success in I-League in their debut season. Rajasthan United FC will be up against the Punjab Football Club on 26th December, which will also be their first encounter of the I-League 2021.

Also read:

High-flying Mumbai brave Jamshedpur blitz to remain on top

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EXCERPTS: 

How did you start your journey in the footballing world? 

I was keen on football since I was a kid. I used to play many local tournaments in Mumbai. Then one day, one of my friends from the local tournament told me about a trial for Air India, this was around the Xth standard. I got selected in Air India U-19, and that’s how my journey began in professional football. Special thanks to Yusuf sir and Godfrey sir under whom I got to learn and grow.

How difficult was it for you to take a break from football and go for a government job? And while doing your job, did you completely leave football?

To begin with, I would like to say that I never left football completely, even when I was working at RBI. And yes, it was a tough choice for me as I had family pressure to take up the job. We belong from a middle-class family, so they always thought about job security; hence it was a tough choice, and I took the job. 

After taking up the opportunity, I never thought of keeping my aspiration at bay. I kept playing after office hours with my friends on local grounds. I always pursued the sport whenever my schedule permitted.

During those years, I played Santosh Trophy and the Mumbai League for the RBI team. We also won the MDFA First Division and got promoted to the Super Division. I got the best player award in the first division and was very happy. So basically, all these things kept me in the game.

While doing your job how did you maintain the momentum to pursue a career in football again? Was it easy? What difficulties did you face? 

To be honest, it was not that difficult, because I always had my interest in football and I never stopped playing. During the off-seasons, all my friends who played professionally used to play together. So the decision to go for Minerva Punjab trials was not that difficult, and I was ready for it. When I went for the trials, they knew have played the I-League with Mumbai and Air India so they knew my talent and signed me. And that’s how my come back incepted. 

But when I was playing for RBI, the sight of viewing my teammates play professionally and getting featured on live television motivated me to push my limits. I kept my focus and believed in the process.

My dream was still alive to play in the big leagues, and when you stay focused on your goal the universe aligns itself. That’s what I believe.

How did you manage your job and football together? 

All thanks to the RBI rule, which came that year. It allowed the players who were recruited through sports to play and continue their job at the same time, and this was the time I heard about the Minerva Punjab trial, which allowed me to play professionally again. This rule helped me a lot to shape my career.

When you work hard, you get results for sure, so I just kept my head down, and everything came my way, and I took the opportunity!

Was your family supportive throughout your journey? 

Yes, my parents supported me from the beginning. You know when my friends used to visit me and told me they were injured for a whole season, it created doubts for my parents. That is why my family thought I should go for a secured job and continue football alongside.  That’s what I did in the end, because you never know what can happen in football.

Tell us your pathway in getting selected for Minerva Punjab FC? What was the feeling of gaining the title in the same year? 

Back then, Minerva was an upcoming side and that team allowed the upcoming players who wanted to prove themselves. That way, Mr Ranjit Bajaj signed me and gave me a platform to perform.

That was a dramatic year, the toughest pre-season I have ever been to but those things helped us to become the strongest in terms of fitness, and hence we won the title. I was the only defender with 3 assists, one of my best seasons. We didn’t have any star player by our side, but the chemistry and bonding between players helped us win matches!

How was your time with the most celebrated clubs in India – East Bengal and Mohan Bagan? You have played 7 derbies so how was your experience?

Derbies were the most significant games I have ever played, the most-watched match in India. Crazy fanbase and it was amazing to be a part of that game. The best experience I ever had. The week before derbies was very intense; there was a lot of pressure and expectations. The team practice sessions were different for these matches, there’s a different environment than a regular match.

Playing the derbies were like a dream to me. In Kolkata I got to learn many things from my coaches and the team and players were fantastic.

The most unusual thing was the dressing room, it stayed awkwardly quiet during these matches. You know everyone felt that pressure. But that pressure helped us to perform better.

What made you move to Sudeva Delhi, and what’s different here than the other teams? 

I went to Sudeva for more game time, and it was good to play here because I made a good friend circle. This team is filled with youngsters and no foreigners, but still, we performed well and gave tough competition to the other teams. But football in India is evolving, there’s no difference now between foreigners and Indian players; both are on the same level.

This was not the case earlier when I joined Air India, there was a quiet a difference in the quality of foreign players, but eventually, I guess local players are becoming better and better. 

After achieving so much, what message would you like to give to the upcoming football aspirants? 

Just stay focused, keep working hard and enjoy your game!

For Trial related updates: Latest trials updates in Mumbai Football

Also Read: I will soon be back and win tournaments with Kenkre FC – Techi Akung

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The post Football in India is evolving at a steady pace – Abhishek Ambekar appeared first on Football Counter.

The 2-1 result was the same as the earlier game at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) where East Bengal had lost after taking the lead.

Chennai’s Spanish striker Pedro Manzi scored his 11th goal of the season while Romario Jesuraj also scored to take the hosts to the top of the 12th Hero I-League, five points ahead of second-placed Churchill Brothers.

East Bengal are on sixth with a game in hand. Despite Laldanmawia Ralte’s fourth goal of the season their hopes of winning a first ever I-League trophy looks like a mirage.

Both teams made one change to their starting eleven. East Bengal coach Alejandro Garcia was forced to replace Lalram Chullova (suspended after a red-card in the game against Indian Arrows) with Samad Ali Mallick.

Chennai coach Akbar Nawas, on the other hand, played Pravitto Raju in place of Shem Martin Eugene.

East Bengal took an early lead in the ninth minute. As defender Borja desperately headed back across goal in a bid to clear…the ball fell to Ralte who nodded home from close range!

Chennai upped the ante as they searched for an equalizer. A wonderful pass from Roberto Eslava found its way into the box to Nestor only for Samad to shield him away in the nick of time.

As Sandro unleashed a rasping drive from outside the box East Bengal goalkeeper Dagar executed a fine save in the 34th minute. Though Chennai were a goal down into the break they clearly were the better team.

They equalized in the 49th minute thanks to Manzi’s 11th goal of the season. That strike made him the season’s joint top-scorer with Churchill’s Willis Plaza.

Romario Jesuraj had pulled the ball back for an onrushing Edwin Vanspaul in the build-up to the goal. And as Vanspaul’s strike deflected off Manzi and wrong-footed Dagar…Chennai had equalized!

The hosts later went ahead thanks to a brilliant tactical change by Nawas. Raju was sent wide on the right and Romario Jesuraj was brought in-field.

A failed interception by East Bengal left back Manoj Mohammad allowed Raju to lay it off for Romario who shot to the top right past a befuddled Dagar!

Romario Jesuraj was adjudged the ‘Hero of the Match’.

Both teams play their next game in four days’ time. Chennai play Aizawl at home while East Bengal face an in-form Indian Arrows in Kolkata.

Also Read: HERO I-LEAGUE: Norde magic helps Bagan down Neroca FC

Also Read: HERO I-LEAGUE: Real Kashmir inch closer to top after Aizawl stalemate

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