'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A late goal from Minerva Punjab FC’s defender Jorge Caceido Rodriguez denied a promising Gokulam Kerala FC side full points during their clash at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, in Panchkula on Saturday evening. After being reduced to 10 men in the first half itself, Minerva Punjab FC was on the back foot. It looked obvious that the visitors would take away the game, taking advantage of the numerical superiority, but it did not happen.
Repeated efforts to penetrate through the defence finally paid off for Gokulam Kerala FC when they took the lead in the 82nd minute by a strike from their forward Marcus Joseph. It seemed that the team would take all the three points back home, but a header from Minerva Punjab Fc’s Colombian recruit Jorge Caceido in the fourth minute of the stoppage time levelled the scores much to the joy of the thousands of home supporters in the stands, although they were expecting a win.
Let us have a look at 3 reasons why Minerva Punjab FC drew against Gokulam Kerala FC:
#3 Impressive Gokulam Kerala FC under new management
Gokulam Kerala FC looked impressive under their newly appointed tactician Gift Raikhan, they nearly drew first blood in the opening minute of the match but the goal was denied. Daniel Addo was rock solid in the defence along with his compatriots. They were hardly creating any trouble for themselves and performed their tasks to near perfection.
The former Trinidad and Tobago International gave them the lead in the 83rd minute when his shot from the left went into the target after a slight deflection from a player on the way. Although he was not so active in the first half, he upped the ante in the second period and got the outcome at the end. This was Joseph’s second appearance for Gokulam Kerala FC and also his second goal for the side. It has been a dream start in the Indian football circuit for the striker.
Gokulam Kerala FC could have easily secured full points from the encounter, but a lapse in concentration at the end let them down A win could have taken them to a more comfortable position in the I-League standings, but now they are lying low at the 10th position with 11 points from 13 matches.
#2 Charles Teiko's brilliant display in the midfield
Charles Teiko was in the thick of the things for Gokulam Kerala FC throughout the match. He was the initiator of the majority of the attacks and the architect in the midfield. The foreigner chased every ball, winning it on a regular basis before passing it up front. It would have been beneficial for the club if they had roped in the Ghanian before the January transfer window.
His understanding with Castro at the heart of the midfield was very visible. Side back Abhishek Das was repeatedly fed with balls by Charles on the overlap, which created quite a scare to the Minerva Punjab FC’s stoppers. The ‘Malabarians’ came close to scoring the winner on quite a few occasions but lacked in quality to finish it off before Marus Joseph finally scored in the 82nd minute.
Fighting to get out of the relegation zone, the services of Charles will be more than useful for the South Indian side in the upcoming matches. Gokulam Kerala FC will host 5th placed NEROCA FC in their next tie following which they will travel to the North East to play against Shillong Lajong FC.
#1 Below par display from Minerva Punjab FC
The hosts were playing Lancine Toure as a striker, a deviation from his usual defensive position. The Ivorian footballer looked rather ill at ease in the attacking third, although he never got enough chances to make an impact in the entire match. Saving that, the entire team hardly created enough chances to change the fate of the game.
Minerva Punjab FC suffered a jolt in the first half itself after Kouma Konan Zacharie was shown the marching orders while the scores were still goalless. It was a major setback for the defending champions. Reduced to 10 men, the hosts lost the punch in their attack.
Everyone thought they could not stage a comeback because the match had swung in Gokulam’s favour from the beginning of the second half. Repeated efforts from the visitors paid off as they took the lead in the 82nd minute, following which it seemed Gokulam FC could double the lead.
But out of the blue Caicedo Rodriguez scored the equaliser in the dying minutes of the match to secure a point from this fixture. Coach Paul Munster needs to make amendments before his team takes on Shillong Lajong next week at the same venue.
