Mohammedan Sporting registered a 2-1 win against Rajasthan United FC in the 2023-24 I-League at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Bikash Singh Sagolsem and Eddie Hernandez were the scorers, for Mohammedan Sporting, while Ragav Gupta reduced the margin for Rajasthan United.
The win helped Mohammedan Sporting leapfrog Gokulam Kerala to the top of the points table, albeit temporarily. They now have 13 points from five matches, including four wins and a draw. Rajasthan United are languishing in 12th with three points from five matches. This was the Kolkata side’s third win on the trot.
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It was Rajasthan United who started the match on an attacking note and created a flurry of chances. However, the profligacy of the forwards meant that they couldn’t find the net in the first half.
Mohammedan Sporting, on the other hand, struggled initially and took time to settle down. They missed the services of Argentinian forward, Alexis Gomez, and Uzbekistan midfielder, Mirjalol Kasimov, both of whom were suspended for the match.
However, Mohammedan Sporting capitalised on the chances they created and took the lead in the added time of the first half. Salam Ranjan Singh delivered a cross from the right. Wahengbam Angousana Luwang laid it off in the path of Sagolsem, who easily slotted it past Rajasthan United goalkeeper Bhabindra Malla Thakuri for Mohammedan’s first goal.
Rajasthan United regrouped during the break and tried their best to make a comeback in the second half. However, it was Mohammedan Sporting who extended the lead in the 71st minute. Wahengbam Angousana Luwang was the orchestrator of the move as the midfielder made a dashing run from the midfield before giving a lateral defence-splitting pass to Hernandez. The forward hit a powerful shot which found Thakuri stranded.
Rajasthan United found a consolation goal in the dying minutes of the match. Ragav Gupta hit a long ranger from outside the box to score a brilliant goal. However, it was too little, too late.
Neroca beat Namdhari
Debutants Namdhari Football Club’s first 2023-24 I-League outing away from home didn’t prove to be a memorable one as they went down to NEROCA FC 1-2 at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
NERCOCA, on the other hand, have a reason to celebrate as it was their first three-pointer this season. And for that, the major credit should go to Aniket Panchal, who scored the winning goal for them during the add-on time.
NEROCA shot into the lead in the 37th minute through Anongshangbam Sushil Meitei, but Namdhari leveled in the 63rd minute when their Spanish midfielder Imanol Arana Sadaba found the target. The Punjab side, however, had to return home empty-handed as Panchal made all the difference between the two teams.
Both Namdhari FC and NEROCA FC have four points each though the latter have played five matches compared to Namdhari’s four.