SRINAGAR: Real Kashmir FC has won yet another match, this time at Coimbatore where it defeated the host team, the Chennai City FC. This was the first match that the Chennai City FC lost, this season.
The match was played in the Nehru Stadium in Coimbatore on Saturday.
“The game was mostly a battle of attrition and the result took Kashmir to the second on the points table, just one point behind Chennai who still lead with 18 points,” a news portal reported from the stadium. “Both teams have completed nine games.”
Real Kashmir FC’s win was interesting because its Scottish defender, Mason Robertson sat out and was replaced by Muhammad Hammad. So did Nagen Tamang and Khalid Qayoom in midfield and Kashmir lads Farhan Ganie and Danish Farooq played in their stead.
Reports from the stadium said the host team attempted to “take control of the game but Kashmir were presenting a compact defensive formation and as much as Chennai’s creative Spanish midfielders Nestor and Sandro tried, they could not find an opening.”
The game seemed to be headed towards a stalemate when Kashmir was awarded a penalty in the 76th minute as Gourav Bora was adjudged to have brought down Krizo inside the box. Kofi Tetteh had to take the spot-kick twice over, but converted both of them and gave Kashmir the lead.
Earlier in Kozhikode (Kerala) where the Real Kashmir FC initially faced a hostile welcome, the match ended in a draw. Both the team, the host Gokulam Kerala and visiting Real Kashmir FC got a point each.
Real Kashmir will now be flying to Kolkatta for a match with East Bengal, which is the No 3 in the existing I-League ranking.
