Durand Cup: Gokulam win Kerala derby against Blasters; Shilling Lajong end campaign with win

Kolkata: Gokulam Kerala earned three valuable points along with bragging rights as they edged past formidable ISL outfit Kerala Blasters 4-3 in a Durand Cup group league game in Kolkata on Sunday. There were four goals in the first-half and three in the second as Gokulam clinched their second straight victory in as many games to go on top of the group. Bouba Aminou (17th min), Sreekuttan (43rd min) and Abhijith K (47th min) scored for the winners, while Emmanuel Justine (34th min), Prabir Das (54th minute) and Adrian Luna (77th minute) scored for the Blasters. Naocha Singh (45+1 min) also scored as own goal to help Kerala’s cause. For Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters, this was their first game in the group and they will now be looking to win their remaining two, to remain in contention. Basit Bhat, who has been impressive in this tournament, won the corner after his long-ranger took a touch off a Blasters defender and deflected away from goal. Spaniard Nili Perdomo curled the right-footer in for Gokulam’s Cameroonian captain Bouba Aminou to use his height and soar above Jeakson Singh and turn the header into top left corner. The Blasters were stunned and responded with urgency. Seven minutes later young 20-year-old Nigerian striker Emmanuel Justine, turned a similar header from an Adrian Luna corner above the crossbar. Then Luna missed from about six-inches wide. Finally, off a Luna free-kick which Gokulam keeper Zothanmawia fisted back towards the six-yard box, Naocha’s header on the rebound hit the bar and came back into play again. In the melee which ensued, Justine did well to muscle the ball in to level proceedings. Blasters’ joy was short-lived though as Perdomo put through Alex Sanchez inside the Blasters box, three minutes ahead of the regulation first 45. The Spaniard drove in and cut-back towards the far post, where Sreekuttan did well to balance himself perfectly and direct a header into goal.

.@GokulamKeralaFC earn regional bragging rights with a 4️⃣-3️⃣ win over @KeralaBlasters in a thrilling #KeralaDerby 🔥🤩#IndianFootball ⚽️ #DurandCup2023 #IndianOilDurandCup 🏆 @thedurandcup pic.twitter.com/nWqrA1ZQrg

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) August 13, 2023

It was a second quality goal from him in the tournament in as many successful attempts. Then in the first minute of added time, a similar ball for Alex by Perdomo, saw him get into a battle with marker Naocha, who unfortunately rolled the ball into the net as Gokulam scored their third goal. The break did nothing to stop the goal rush and Abhijith K this time, put Sreekuttan’s strike in the first game against the Air Force into oblivion with a thunderbolt just two-minutes into the second-half. Alex it was who got his second assist after a galloping run to the box, whereafter he withdrew and laid it on square for Abhijith. The 26-year-old central midfielder put his laces through the ball, bulging the right top-corner of Sachin’s goal for Gokulam’s fourth. If anyone thought the Blasters would give up in a derby, they were in for a surprise. The sixth goal of the game was scored by Prabir, after a dazzling and penetrating foray by Md. Aimen, who took out two defenders and then finally the goalkeeper with his dink back into the box. Prabir who had followed up on the far post, made no mistake with the finish. Then Luna made it a one-goal game again, after a few minutes of inspiring play by substitute Bidhyasagar Singh. After he had missed a sitter, the 25-year-old Manipuri striker embarked on a solo run and put through Aimen once more on the left. The young midfielder put it in the box where after a couple of defections it fell for the Uruguayan who blasted it in. However, try as the Blasters might in the final 10 plus minutes, it was going to Gokulam’s day as they pulled off a famous 4-3 derby victory. Shilling Lajong end campaign on winning note Kokrajhar: Ronney Wilson Kharbudon’s brace helped 10-man Shillong Lajong FC beat Downtown Heroes 2-1 in a Group D fixture, and end their campaign on a high note in the Durand Cup here on Sunday. Lajong goalkeeper Ngamsanglena Haokip was shown a straight red card in the 10th minute of the game at the SAI Stadium. Wilson’s own goal in the 23rd minute gave Downtown the lead, but he recovered to score two more goals in the 36th and 52nd minute as Lajong finished the tournament with three points from three matches. Lajong were playing for pride as they were already out of reckoning to qualify for the knockouts, while Downtown were playing to make a mark at the highest level of Indian football. The first real chance of the opening half came for Lajong as Pursunep’s effort was saved brilliantly by Downtown keeper Paramjit Baghel. The counter attack on that save led to Shillong Lajong being reduced to ten men. Nigerian Ezekeil Oroh was free on goal but he was felled by Lajong goalkeeper Haokip who came rushing outside the box. Lajong played positively even with a man down as they came close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute. Kynsailang Khongsit’s cross was met by Laiwang Bohham before the Downtown keeper could punch it away but his header went wide. Figo Syndai’s effort minutes later hit the side net. Downtown broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute through an own goal by Ronney. DHFC Captain Shahid Nazir’s free kick was deflected into his own goal by Ronney giving the lead for the side from Kashmir. Lajong continued to play positive football which led to the equaliser in the 36th minute. A corner from Laiwang Bohham was met by Syndai and the ball was headed in by Ronney, making amends for his own goal earlier. The teams went into the break with scores level on 1-1. Downtown were trying to make use of their personnel advantage but could not find the decisive moves in the final stretch. On the other end, Lajong were menacing on the counter attacks and were making good use of their set pieces. One such move led to the second goal for the Reds. Captain Hardy Cliff Nongbri’s freekick from the center circle was met well by Ronney and his glancing header beat keeper Paramjit Baghel to give them a 2-1 lead. The game followed the same pattern as Downtown chased an equaliser. The Shillong side was organised in defence and made good use of the counter attacks. They created better chances as well, mostly from set pieces. Syndai had a golden opportunity to finish off the game but he shot wide after the Downtown keeper spilled the ball off a corner. Lajong saw off the rest of the game as they signed off the tournament with a win. Their next assignment will be I League, having gained a promotion this year.