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A second-half comeback saw Sreenidi Deccan FC keep the I-League 2023-24 title race alive, as they beat Gokulam Kerala 2-1 at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The winners trailed 0-1 at half-time.
Sreenidi climb to second in the I-League table, with 39 points from 19 games, and are eight behind table toppers Mohammedan Sporting with a game in hand. For Gokulam Kerala, however, this defeat ended their hopes of winning their third I-League title; they are now on 36 points from 21 matches.
Nikola Stojanovic (44’) gave the hosts the lead just before the half-time break, but Sreenidi came back strongly in the second half, and a brace by William Alves de Oliveira (47’ and 71’) took them to safety.
With Mohammedan Sporting running away at the top of the league, it was imperative that both sides score maximum points from this fixture, or they would see their title challenge go up in flames.
Hosts Gokulam Kerala clearly had the greater impetus, as they did well to keep possession and create chances on goal. Alejandro Sanchez had an early chance when he was played in behind the Sreenidi defence, but defender Pawan Kumar did well to track back and averted the danger.
For Sreenidi, Brandon Vanlalremdika found a lot of joy on the right flank, as he constantly sent crosses into the Gokulam box, keeping the hosts’ defenders, quite literally, on their toes.
As it began to look like both sides would have to rework their drawing boards at the breather, Stojanovic, much to the delight of the local supporters, put Gokulam in the lead. The move started with Noufal PN, who moved up the right wing, before playing it to Abhijith K in the middle. The midfielder turned and put the ball into the path of an onrushing Stojanovic, who laced the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot.
Sreenidi came back hard after the restart, and their barrage of attacks immediately paid dividends. Brandon pinged a cross from a free-kick on the left flank, to which Sreenidi’s Brazilian forward William rose perfectly and headed it in.
The away side were clearly not content with just a draw and kept probing at the Gokulam defence, and it was William again, who gave them their second goal. The forward, chasing an aerial ball, was brought down inside the Gokulam Kerala box, as the referee pointed to the spot. The big man from Brazil stepped up to take the spot-kick himself and put his side in the lead.
The hosts frantically looked for a way back into the game with just about 20 minutes left, but Sreenidi held on with resolution. With five matches to go, their title challenge continues.
