Real Kashmir FC defeated energetic Neroca FC in a hard fought match of I-League here on Wednesday.
A local boy Danish Farooq, who scored the solitary goal inthe match emerged as a hero of the hard fought tie.
It was a tough match with visitors not letting hosts to takefoot off the gas. They posed continuous threat from the start and made lifedifficult for hosts who needed win badly. In the end, hosts owing to the firsthalf strike by Danish Farooq edged out Neroca FC by 1-0 to get back on winningways.
With this important home win, Real Kashmir FC has jumpedback to third place on points table with 22 points while as Neroca FC stayed inrelegation zone at 10th place with 15 points. It was not an easy win for RealKashmir as Neroca FC who badly needed a win continuously were looking for thegoal.Earlier Real Kashmir FC coach David Robertson made just one change.ChesterpaulLyngdoh replaced Ritwik Kumar Das on the right flank as Das hadflown back home. His father has passed away. As a mark of condolence tribute,Real Kashmir FC players and Neroca FC players played match with black armbands.
Neroca FC coach Gift Raikhan made three changes in thelineup. Ronald Singh, ZodinglianaRalte and ChansoHoram replaced DhananjoySingh, Jiteshwor Singh and Subhash Singh.
The match got off to a slow start with both teams failing toget the footing and rhythm. There was full drama in the 11th minute as refereehanded Neroca FC player OusamaneDiawara a red card and marching orders. Afterprotests from the Neroca players, the referee consulted his assistants anddecided to overturn his decision.
Neroca continued to press on and nearly scored a goal.Seeing visitors making continuous efforts, Real Kashmir changed its formation.They brought back Mason Robertson into defense and pushed Danish Farooq upalong with Kullum Higginbotham and Robin Singh. The change of tactics proved tobe a turning point as Real Kashmir FC shortly went on to a score goal whichturned out to be a winning goal.
Danish Farooq broke the deadlock in 42nd minute when hefound the back of the net with a clinical header of energeticChesterpaulLyngdoh’s cross.
In the injury time, the hosts came close to double theirlead twice. First Kallum Higginbotham won a loose ball from Diawara and enteredthe box before trying to place the ball into the net through the far post butfailed to keep his shot on target. Then only minute later with second in halftime whistle, Farooq received a long ball from FarhanGanie and tried to chipthe ball over Bishorjit Singh from the edge of the box but the NEROCAgoalkeeper did well to stop the ball from going in twice.
The second half continued as it was in first half with bothsides looking for goals. Real Kashmir was dominant and looked settled in thechanged formation. Real Kashmir FC won the match by 1-0.
In the post match press conference, Neroca FC coach saidthat he has no complaint with his team as they fought hard against a qualityand tough side like Real Kashmir.
Real Kashmir coach David Robertson said that his side hasgot adaptability and this win proves that once again.