I-League: Gokulam Kerala beat Aizawl FC; Sreenidi Deccan go past Dempo

Gokulam Kerala FC staged a brilliant comeback before scoring an injury time winner to condemn Aizawl to a sixth game without a win in the 2024-25 I-League with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.

The visitors scored two goals in the second half through substitutes Sinisa Stanisavic (49’) and Thabiso Nelson Brown (90+5’) after Aizawl FC took the lead in the first half when Samuel Lalmuanpuia struck from a free-kick in the 17th minute.

The result means Aizawl remain mired deep in the relegation zone, three points adrift of their nearest rivals as they have so far collected just 11 matches from 16 outings.

Gokulam Kerala, meanwhile, climbed to fourth on the table with 25 points from 16 matches.

As has been the norm, Aizawl were the ones quick off the blocks and immediately put Gokulam under pressure with their speedy wing play.

In the 17th minute Lalbiakdika was fouled just outside the box, to give Aizawl a first shot at goal.

The ball was in a favourable position and yet, Samuel Lalmuanpuia had a lot to do to drive it above the wall and into the far corner. A flailing Shibinraj Kunniyil could do nothing to stop it ballooning the net.

Aizawl’s dominant play had caught Gokulam unaware and they were constantly harangued out of possession and left with scraps for the duration of the first half.

Within five minutes of the restart though they were level, thanks in part to a substitute’s inspired brilliance.

Sinisa Stanisavic was brought on at half time and the Montenegro footballer grasped the first opportunity he got. Martin Chaves’ lobbed cross from the right fell to the forward near the penalty spot, albeit slightly behind his position.

He improvised to smash a scissor kick into the top corner of Aizawl’s goal. The hosts were stunned but did not let it deter them.

Chances though were few and far between with both sides able to only muster shots from long range.

In the 82nd minute, Aizawl had the best chance to win the game, but Lalmuanpuia’s shot bounced off the upright. It would come to bite them right at the end, when they poured forward in numbers to get the winner.

Gokulam set off on a blistering counter-attack in injury time, Ignacio de Loyola’s low cross from the left delivered to perfection to Thabiso Brown running into the centre of the box.

Aizawl’s defence floundered and the Lesotho born striker smashed it in first time. Gokulam had taken a last gasp win. Aizawl’s heartbreaking season got worse.

Sreenidi Deccan sink Dempo SC

A spirited David Castañeda Muñoz orchestrated a stunning comeback for Sreenidi Deccan FC to defeat hosts Dempo Sports Club 3-2 in a gripping 2024-25 I-League match on Tuesday.

The Colombian forward played a crucial role in reversing his team’s fortunes in the second half as he scored twice and set up the winner for Brandon Vanlalremdika. The brace also helped Castañeda emerge the top-scorer in the league with 12 goals.

Dempo players were left frustrated after Marcus Joseph and Juan Mera had given them the lead in the first half.

The win helped Sreenidi Deccan leapfrog Dempo to the eighth position in the points table. They have 22 points from 16 matches with six wins, four draws and six losses. Dempo are ninth with 19 points from 16 matches.

Castañeda is no stranger to the current edition of the I-League for his second half blitz, especially in the away matches.

Earlier, on January 9, against hosts Aizawl FC, the Colombian struck a hat-trick in the last half an hour to steer the Hyderabad side to a 4-3 win after Aizawl raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half.

It was a tale of two halves. The match opened with Dempo asserting dominance and capitalising on their home advantage to take early control.

The first half saw Dempo’s attacking flair in full force, led by Joseph and Mera, whose chemistry and sharp movements left the Sreenidi Deccan defence scrambling.

The duo’s efforts paid off, with Joseph heading in a precise cross from Mera in the eighth minute to put Dempo ahead.

Their relentless pressure continued, and just before the half time whistle, Mera added a second, pouncing on a rebound after Sreenidi Deccan goalkeeper Aryan Lamba could only parry Joseph’s initial effort.

Trailing by two goals at the break, Sreenidi Deccan’s prospects looked bleak. However, the second half unveiled a different narrative.

Castañeda emerged as the catalyst for change, igniting the comeback with a header from a deep free-kick in the 53rd minute.

Castañeda’s scoring prowess was on display again when he equalised six minutes later. Exploiting a mistake from Dempo’s goalkeeper Ashish Sibi, who failed to collect the ball cleanly, Castañeda tapped home from close range.

The decisive moment came in the 69th minute. Munoz continued his influential performance and delivered a precise cross to Vanlalremdika across the face of the Dempo goal.

Vanlalremdika made no mistake in converting the opportunity to complete the stunning comeback and put Sreenidi Deccan ahead for the first time in the match.

Shocked by the turn of events, Dempo struggled to regain their composure but found a golden opportunity to salvage a point late in the game.

Lukman Adefemi Abegunrin had a clear shot at goal, but Sreenidi’s defender Deepak DP made a crucial block, preserving the lead and securing all three points for his team.