Gokulam Kerala steam past Neroca FC to move up in I-League

Kalyani, Jan 25 : Gokulam Kerala FC got back to winning ways as they defeated Neroca FC 4-1 to take their tally on the I-League table to six points at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium here on Monday.
A Jiteshwor Singh own goal (22nd minute) and strikes by Philip Adjah 31st min), Jestin Geroge (39th), and Mohammad Sharif penalty (86th) were enough to hand the Malabarians three points and put them in the top half of the points table. Neroca pulled one goal back through Songpu Singsit 88th min) in the dying moments of the match.
It seemed like Gokulam Kerala FC were out to prove a point after defeat in their last fixture to Aizawl FC and the Malabarians made a strong statement by hammering three quick goals past high-flying Neroca in the first half. In the 13th minute, forward Emil Benny could have opened the scoring for Gokulam but his shot went wide.
Two minutes later, Benny’s shot from close range was saved by the opposition custodian and the ball fell inches away from Philip Adjah, before going out for a corner. Had Adjah been closer, it would have been a simple tap-in for the forward.
Constant badgering of their opposition’s defence was meant to open up a chance sooner or later. Little did the Malabarians know that it would be through an own goal in the 23rd minute. A well-worked corner routine saw a whipped cross from the left flank and in an attempt to clear the ball, Neroca’s Jiteshwor Singh headed it into his own net.
The opening goal spurred Gokulam Kerala FC and in the 31st minute, Dennis Antwi found Philip Adjah in the box and the Ghanian smashed the ball into the back of the net from close range to double Gokulam’s lead. A third goal soon came in the 39th minute when Jestin George chested a Deepak Devrani free-kick into the net after a deflection.