I-League 2nd Division: FC Kerala edge past Kerala Blasters, Hindustan FC held by Real Kashmir, Chennaiyin FC lose to TRAU
A Midweek tripleheader in the I-League Second Division saw two Indian Super League Reserve Sides lose to I-League 2nd Division teams. Sportskeeda looks at all the three matches in brief.
Match 1 : FC Kerala 3-2 Kerala Blasters B
FC Kerala defeated Kerala Blasters in the Kerala Derby at the Corporation Stadium, Thrissur on Thursday in the I-League 2nd Division.
The Indian Super League Reserves side got a quick 2-0 lead early in the first half through a brace from Suraj Rawat.
Blasters dominated the proceedings for a majority of the period in the first 45 minutes.
FC Kerala kept on pressing in the second half and pulled one back at the 57th-minute mark through Bala Al-Hassan Dahir. Sreyas VG scored five minutes later to restore parity and made it 2-2.
Abhijith EM scored a 92nd-minute winner to send the 4000 strong crowd in Thrissur into ruptures and won the game for FC Kerala.
FC Kerala will next face Ozone FC Bengaluru on 16th April at the same venue while Kerala Blasters Reserves will play FC Goa Reserves on 16th April at the Bambolim Stadium, Goa.
Match 2: Hindustan FC 0-0 Real Kashmir
Hindustan FC were held goalless by Real Kashmir at the Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi in the I-League 2nd Division on Thursday.
Hindustan FC came into this game with a brilliant undefeated run with three wins from four games so far while Real Kashmir came into this game in similar form as well with two wins from their four games. The Kashmiri side are undefeated too.
Both the teams were clumsy during offensive moves up the pitch and were unable to break the deadlock throughout the course of the time.
Hindustan FC will face Lonestar Kashmir on 17th April in the TRC Turf Ground, Srinagar while Real Kashmir will face Delhi United on 18th April in Srinagar as well.
Match 3: Chennaiyin FC B 1-2 TRAU FC
Chennaiyin FC continued their disastrous 'point-less' campaign as they succumbed to yet another loss when they faced Tiddim Road Athletic Union in the SSN College Ground, Chennai on Thursday in the I-League 2nd Division.
TRAU came into this game as favourites owing up to their impressive unbeaten campaign in the league so far from two wins in their previous three games.
Chennaiyin FC started the game on a positive note with crisp possession play. The Blues from Chennai went ahead through Zonunmawia in the 32nd Minute.
However, Chennaiyin FC's happiness was shortlived as Princewill Emeka restored parity late in the second half at the 42nd minute to put TRAU level.
Both the teams went into the game, level pegging.
Laishram Milan Singh overturned the tables and scored early in the second half to put the Manipuri side ahead.
TRAU somehow held on to their slender 2-1 lead to the final whistle despite Chennaiyin FC trying their best to get back into the game.
Chennaiyin FC Reserves will now host Jamshedpur FC on 15th April at the same venue while TRAU FC has a mammoth Bengaluru FC Challenge at the Bengaluru Football Stadium on 16th April.