Real Kashmir FC register first away win of I-League 2024-25

Mohammad Inam’s 52nd minute goal proved the difference as Real Kashmir FC registered their first away win the I-League 2024-25 when they beat Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0 at the EMS Corporation Stadium on Wednesday night.

While Real Kashmir now have 23 points from 14 matches behind leaders Churchill Brothers (27), Namdhari FC (24) and Inter Kashi (24), Gokulam stay at the seventh place with 19 points from 14 outings.

The hosts, a livelier lot

For two sides currently mired in a mid-table battle, the game provided an opportunity to perhaps separate themselves from the pack and try to regain ground in the title challenge.

The hosts looked the livelier lot. In the 14th minute, they carved out the first chance, when Ignacio de Loyola squared his pass to Adama Niane at the top of the box. The striker hit a brilliant shot first time, but straight at the Real Kashmir goalkeeper Zahid Hussain who punched it away.

Six minutes later, Real Kashmir rocked the woodwork, when Kamal Issah picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and let fly. His shot comfortably beat Shibinraj Kunniyil, but bounced off the crossbar. The bar was still shaking when Paulo Dos Santos followed the rebound into the net. He was flagged offside.

Gokulam had another chance around the half hour mark, when Niane played the ball through in the path of Sinisa Stanisavic’s run into the box. The Montenegrin had taken the ball to side but let fly anyway only for Hussain to parry the shot away.

Mohammad Inam strikes

Real Kashmir struck the first blow early in the second half, when Mohammad Inam scored the match’s only goal in the 52nd minute.

A long throw-in from the right flank was half cleared to the top of the box by Gokulam’s defence, with Inam lurking for exactly that sort of ball. The winger took a perfect first touch, spun it to his left foot and fired a low shot into the near corner through a mass of bodies. Shibinraj’s dive was to no avail.

Kashmir came close to doubling that lead in the 72nd minute via Karim Samb. The Senegalese rose high to head down an Ocran Idan cross towards goal. The header was low and hard, and yet somehow, Shibinraj readjusted his positioning, to palm the ball over the bar.

Gokulam got desperate as the game wore on but their nerves never remained calm enough in the final third for them to create anything of note. Kashmir rolled home to take the three points.