Gokulam Kerala FC won their first match in Hero I-League by beating Indian Arrows

Gokulam Kerala FC posted their first win of the 11th Hero I-League, getting the better of Indian Arrows 2-0  in New Delhi’s Ambedkar Stadium. Ghanian Daniel Addo (11th minute) and Syrian Khaled Alsaleh (64th minute) scored for the visitors as a now trademark spirited performance for the Arrows youngsters yet again failed to deliver a point for them.

In the first half, Gokulam Kerala FC were the more attacking and even looked the side more in control of the game even though possession was split equally.

The initial enterprise was shown by the Indian Arrows. In the 8th minute, the self-driven and pacy Aniket Jadhav first cut in from the left to play the ball to Abhishek Halder near the top of the box, but his feeble left footer lacked direction. A minute later, he again broke through from the left beating Provat Lakra for pace but could not get the critical pass in.

Then almost against the run of play, Kerala’s Ghanian centre-back, Daniel Addo jumped high above everyone, off a Rohit Mirza corner from the left flank in the 11th minute, to drill a header into the Arrows net. The Arrows defence could certainly have been more alert and proactive in marking Addo.

The Arrows were clearly rattled and frustrated by the goal as Aniket Jadhav earned the game’s first yellow card in the 30th minute for his incessant aggression.

In the 35th minute, Gokulam’s Syrian recruit Khaled Alsaleh put Rohit Mirza, who had a fantastic game incidentally, through on the right. His attempt to break in was thwarted illegally by Anwar Ali, just outside the box. Khaled fired in a left-footer, but it rebounded off the goalline milee.

Then in the 37th minute, Abhishek Halder lost the ball inside his own half and Usman Ashik broke free into the Arrows box from the left. His diagonal left-footer beat Dheeraj but rolled past the far post. Just at the stroke of the lemon-break, Gokulam got another chance when a lovely through ball from Usman found Rohit clear in the box with just the goalkeeper to beat. But Dheeraj, rushed out to clear just in time.

The Arrows began the second half with a lot more intent. Three corners and a couple of set pieces in advantageous positions being the result. In the 58th minute, from one of those free-kicks from about 30-yards away, Sanjeev Stalin curled a vicious right-footer which beat the Gokulam keeper Bilal all ends up but struck the upright, in what turned out to be the Arrows best chance of the game.

Stalin’s overenthusiasm post the free-kick though cost his team a second goal. He picked up a needless yellow card on the right flank with a reckless tackle on Santu Singh. From the resultant free-kick, Alsaleh curled a looping left-footer, which beat everyone including Dheeraj in goal, to double Gokulam’s lead in the 64th minute.

As Arrows, stung by the reverse, tried their best to come back into the game, Usman was replaced by Syed Shoaib Ahmed in the 75th minute by Gokulam coach Bino George to ensure more muscle in the defensive midfield.

The Arrows coach Matos, made his last throw of the dice with a double substitution in the 86th and 87th minute. Abhijit Sarkar came in for Jadhav and Boris Thanjam was replaced by K. Meetei. But in spite of the fact that most of the play was happening in the Gokulam half, the spirited Arrows side could not find a consolation goal.

Daniel Addo was adjudged the Hero of the Match for his overall robust performance in defence as well as for scoring the first goal to break the deadlock.

Midfield spearhead Jaekson Singh made a comeback into the starting eleven and so did Aniket Jadhav, the striker who struck twice in the Arrows opening game win against Chennai City FC. 

Gokulam started with Usman Ashik, who had given a good account of himself coming on as a substitute for the Kerala side’s previous outing. Also starting for them was Rohit Mirza. Gokulam captain and leader Sushant Mathew was missed in this game due to injury.

This was Gokulam Kerala FC’s second away match while it was the first time that the Indian Arrows played in Delhi in the 11th Hero I-League, which was touted as their home base before the start of the league. Gokulam move from ninth to the seventh position on the points table with this win while the Arrows move down a position to ninth place.