Gokulam Kerala 4 (26’ Philip Adjah, 70’, 72’ Dennis Antwi, 75’ OG Anwar Ali) RoundGlass Punjab 3 (17’ 25’ Chencho Gyeltshen, 44’ Rupert Nongrum)
KOLKATA: Gokulam Kerala FC came from two goals down and found the net thrice in the second half to earn a remarkable comeback 4-3 win against RoundGlass Punjab FC at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday.
In a tale of two halves, the first belonged to RoundGlass Punjab FC. Chencho Gyeltshen’s quick-fire brace and a goal by Rupert Nongrum failed to safeguard Punjab’s lead as a second-half comeback by Gokulam Kerala FC cut short Punjab’s euphoria. A brace by Dennis Antwi and an own goal by Anwar Ali in the second half led the Kerala outfit to register a remarkable win.
Despite Gokulam’s chances and domination of possession, it was RoundGlass Punjab’s clinically which earned them the plaudits. In the 17th minute, Chencho was slyly found by a cushioned header inside the box, from a freekick, and the Bhutanese International slotted into the bottom corner to give Punjab the lead.
Limbu made a miraculous save from a Philip Adjah tap-in after he was found by a low cross by Dennis Antwi. Gokulam’s loss was Punjab’s gain. Off the resulting corner, Sanju Pradhan stole possession and ran towards goal. With Chencho alongside him, Pradhan played a quick pass to the Bhutanese forward as he slotted home the first time to double RoundGlass Punjab’s lead.
Philip Adjah reduced the deficit for Gokulam Kerala FC in the 26th minute when his outside of the boot shot left Kiran Limbu bewildered. The writing on the wall came in the 44th minute for Gokulam Kerala FC. Chencho ran towards goal and set up an onrushing Rupert Nongrum who slotted it past a hapless goalkeeper to make it 3-1 for RoundGlass Punjab FC.
RoundGlass Punjab FC made two defensive changes shortly after, bringing Anwar Ali and Bikash Yumnam for Ashray Bhardwaj and Sanju Pradhan respectively. In the 70th minute, Dennis Antwi headed home from close range off a Deepak Devrani free-kick to reduce Gokulam’s deficit to one goal. The spurred comeback was complete in the 72nd minute when Dennis Antwi used his physical prowess to latch onto a long ball, unleashing a half-volley that crashed into the back of the net as the scoreline read 3-3. Three minutes later Anwar Ali headed the ball into own net to hand Gokulam the lead and the match.
KALYANI: Debutants Sudeva Delhi FC registered their first win of the Hero I-League 2020-21 season after the Chencho Dorji coached side defeated All India Football Federation’s developmental side Indian Arrows 3-0 at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Thursday.
A goal apiece by Kean Lewis (40th), Mahesh Singh (49th) and substitute Shaiborlang Kharpan (66th) led the Delhi-based club to an easy win over the Indian Arrows, in a match largely dominated by the Delhi outfit, both in terms of chances created and possession.
