Real Kashmir FC maintained its unbeaten record against their local rivals Lone Star Kashmir FC intact by registering 2-1 win in the scintillating closely fought match of the second division I-League football event played at Synthetic Turf TRC Ground here on Wednesday.
Going into the match with clean record against their local I-League club rivals, Real Kashmir nearly were surprised but did kept their cool to finish on the winning side. Real Kashmir and Lone Star FC are the only I-League level clubs of Kashmir who are based in Kashmir and play their home matches in Srinagar.
While Real Kashmir played like a team, Lone Star were mostly dependant on heroics of their striker Aalkif Reshi who nearly pulled off another stunning display. Despite his effort Real Kashmir won match by 2-1 goals.
Match started with Real Kashmir trying to maintain their dominance over Lone Star by controlling the ball in the midfield with occasional push for the goal. With the time they started to control the game and in 39th minute Danish Farooq was able to break deadlock for them. It was much needed momentum for the game with Real pushing up regularly. In-between when it looked like that Real will go into half time with 1-0 goal lead, they were in store for surprise. Aakif Reshi fresh from hat-trick against FC Pune City, produced another display of brilliant football by scoring stunner to level the score. He got ball outside the 25-yard circle, after moving past two defenders fired short straight into left corner of Real Kashmir goal. It leveled the goal and teams went into half time with 1-1 score line.
In second half, the pace of the game was up with both trying their best to get the lead. Though Real Kashmir with the class in its possession were able to produce more chances and dominate the possession but Lone Star tried to match them with regular attacks. However, as has been case, they were too much dependant on Aakif which was not working for them with Real defenders closely marking the striker.
Real Kashmir got lead once again in 72nd minute through Atinder Mani strike. Only few minutes later Lone Star got chance to level the score but Real goalkeeper made excellent save. Aakif tried to chip ball over Real Kashmir keeper which was saved.
After that Real Kashmir made couple another decent moves but couldn’t extend score line.
Real Kashmir won match by 2-1 goals stretching their unbeaten record against Lone Star to three games in I-League competition.
Lone Star will next play Delhi United on April-3 while as real will also be facing Delhi United in its next clash on April 8.
From the three matches played so far, Real Kashmir has been able to win two and draw one while as Lone Star has lost two and draw one.