Panchkula: Gokulam Kerala continued it’s astonishing run, one in which they have beaten Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Minerva Punjab in successive matches, opening up the I-League yet again.
Minerva Punjab seemed to be the automatic favourites for the title when Bagan beat Neroca and East Bengal had lost a couple of days ago. But Gokulam planned otherwise and ensured the I-League remained the yo-yo league that it was, with another inspired performance against the Chandigarh based club at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Tuesday.
Henry Kisekka’s 75th minute strike secured the victory for Gokulam — three matches ago they were placed bottom on the table — and now with three consecutive victories, the Malabarians stand on sixth with 19 points from 15 games.
Minerva despite the loss remained second on 29 points from the same no matches, but are two points behind leaders Neroca who have played as many games more. Third placed East Bengal are just three points behind the ‘Warriors’ and they have Bagan at their heels on 24 points.
The home side looked content to defend deep and it was the visitors who were left to run and chase the ball. Minerva were able to do that successfully — keep the opponents off the ball — in the first half but the tactic backfired in the second. A period where Gokulam struck the upright thrice and netted a goal.
With Minerva too dependent on Chencho Gyeltshen’s pace for swift counter-attacks, opponents have man-marked the Bhutanese international making it hard for Minerva to attack and that have led to the them scoring nothing in the last two games.
It has also encouraged opponents to try long range shots and while Cavin Lobo snatched the winner a match ago, Mohammed Rashid came close to doing it for Gokulam twice in quick successions. The ball struck the crossbar both the times but not a third time.
Kisekka’s shot from the tip of the 18-yard box rattled the bar before landing at his feet and the Ugandan striker made no mistake making it two goals for him in three matches.
Minerva tried all and came agonizingly close twice in the final 10 minute but William Opoku on both the occasions hit wide. It sort of summed up how the day went for the home side’s players.