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Local side United Sports Club shocked Gokulam Kerala FC as former Malabarian Bright Middleton Mends scored an 89th minute winner to see off the Kerala team’s hopes of starting the IFA Shield campaign in style.
Despite the loss, Gokulam Kerala FC held an upper hand for most of the game, but they were not able to break the resolute United SC defence. Gokulam Kerala FC’s Italian head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese started the match with a 4-2-3-1 formation, lining up five Kerala players in the starting XI.
The team was on attacking mode from the kickoff as the first chance came for Salman in the tenth minute but his shot on goal was parried away by the goalkeeper. Shibil and Ronald Singh had also their chances on goal but all of them missed the target narrowly.
Gokulam Kerala FC Malian forward Saliou also fired a couple of shots on goal but the United SC goalie was on superb form as he denied the Malabarian hopes of scoring before the half-way mark.
In the second half, Annese tried to bring in more attacking flavour as he subbed in Jithin, Vincy, and Zodingliana. But the Malabarians failed to break the deadlock. In the last ten minutes, Annese took out the captain and defender Muhammed Awal and subbed in Dennis Antwi in search of a goal.
However, United SC responded by increasing their attacking intent and finally Bright Middleton Mends capitalized on weak defensive links of Malabarians in the last minute to hand over a blow to the 2019 Durand Cup champions.
“The boys looked like they are nervous. My aim is to win every match and we need to correct our mistakes. We will come back more strongly,” said Gokulam Kerala FC head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese.
