I-League: After Mohun Bagan, East Bengal fall prey to rejuvenated Gokulam Kerala FC

Kozhikode, February 17: Gokulam Kerala FC continued their revival in the I-League 2017-18, beating East Bengal 2-1 at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode on Saturday (February 17).

NEROCA FC's last home fixture

Although Katsumi Yusa gave the visitors a lead from the penalty spot at the stroke of half-time, Bino George's boys made a stunning comeback to take the game away from East Bengal. Their Nagaland-born striker Kivi Zhimomi restored the parity six minutes into the second half before Salam Ranjan Singh poked an own goal in the 87th minute to fall prey to the Kerala outfit after they humbled Mohun Bagan in Kolkata in their last fixture.

As Khalid Jamil expressed in the press conference, the visitors went all guns blazing in their quest for the three points, which would take them to the second spot on the points table.

Dudu Omagbemi and Katsumi Yusa were trying hard to choke Gokulam Kerala FC defence but they stood tall between the East Bengal attackers and the target. Mahmoud Al Amna nutmegged three defenders and unleashed a juicy delivery to Samad Ali Mullick but he failed to make the best out of it in the 4th minute.

Bino George had to go for an early change as Alajmi got himself injured in the 35th minute and eventually, the Bahrainian midfielder was substituted by Arjun Jayaraj, who played a significant role in Gokulam Kerala's second goal.

Emmanuel Chigozie invited a spot-kick when he hackled down Cavin Lobo inside the box. Katsumi Yusa had little problem perplexing Bilal Khan to bring cheer to the travelling fans at half-time.

It was a completely changed Kerala outfit after the changeover as their attackers started pushing East Bengal defenders harder and eventually Kivi Zhimomi found the back of the net in the 51st minute.

Henry sidefooted a ball which came into Kivi's way and the striker bombed a powerful shot, which rattled the back of the net to cancel the visitors' lead.

Henry could have netted a brace had the woodwork not betrayed him twice in the second half. Henry's left-footed long-ranger ricocheted off the woodwork but Kivi's header went haywire in the 76th minute.

Seven minutes later, the striker's fate betrayed him once again when he hit the crossbar from a powerful header of Irshad's cross.

Eventually, Henry played a crucial role setting up their second goal when he passed it onto an onrushing Arjun Jayaraj, who was left unmarked by the East Bengal defenders. The first-half substitute passed a low delivery which was netted wrongfully by Salam Ranjan Singh.

The match heated up as the referee had to give a couple of marching orders before the final whistle. Following a scuffle on the pitch, Md Irshad was shown a red and a rough challenge on Arjun forced the referee to send off East Bengal skipper Arnab Mondal.

Following the win, Gokulam Kerala FC rise to the eighth spot with 16 points in their kitty from 14 matches. East Bengal stay rooted to the third spot with 26 points, having played one match more.

Match result: Gokulam Kerala FC 2 (Kivi Zhimomi 51, Salam Ranjan Singh 87 og) bt East Bengal 1 (Katsumi Yusa 45+4 pen)

Source: AIFF Media