Chattogram – Sree Gokulam Kerala FC of India made a flying start in the eight-team Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football Tournament upsetting Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football Champions Bashundhara Kings by 3-1 goals in their first match at the floodlit MA Aziz Stadium here on Tuesday.
Ugandan forward Henry Kisekka netted twice, Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Nathaniel Jude Garcia scored one goal for the champions of world’s third oldest domestic football competition Durand Cup, who are playing in the place of BPL runners-up Dhaka Abahani Limited.
On the other hand, midfielder Md Motin Mia scored the lone goal for Bashundhara Kings.In the 25th minute, Henry Kisekka opened the account for Gokulam Kerala FC by a low-range shot from the danger zone, off a long pass of Nathaniel Jude Garcia (1-0).
In the 31st minute, Nathaniel Jude Garcia doubled the Gokulam Kerala FC margin by a right-footed direct free kick (2-0).
After the half-time, Bangladesh champions Kings got another blow as Henry Kisekka netted his 2nd and team’s 3rd goal by a close-range right-footed shot inside the box, utilising a pass of Nathaniel Jude Garcia (3-0).
In the 74th minute, substitute midfielder Md Motin Mia scored a consolation goal for the Kings by a left-footer close-range shot from the danger zone in the 2nd chance when Kingsley Eleta spoiled the first opportunity (3-1).
Just after two minutes (77th minute), Motin Mia got another good chance to score his 2nd goal but his close-range left-footer unfortunately hit the side bar.
In the 90th minute, Gokulam Kerala FC goalkeeper Ubaid Chono Kadavath brilliantly saved another close-range shot from substitute midfielder Sk Alamgir Kabir Rana.
Kings continued their attacks but the Indian team successfully maintained their 3-1 lead at the end of the game. Spanish head coach of Gokulam Kerala FC Fernando Andres Santiago Valera received yellow card in the match.
In the other match of the day, a hat-trick by Brazilian forward Bruno Suzuki Castanheira guided Terengganu FC of Malaysia to a 5-3 goals victory against Chennai City FC of India in the first Group B match of the tournament at the same venue.
In the next matches on Wednesday, TC Sports Club will play Mohun Bagan AC at 4pm and hosts Chattogram Abahani Limited will meet Young Elephants FC at 7 pm.
Bashundhara Kings: Anisur Rahman Zico, Yeasin Khan, Bahtiyar Duishobekov, Daniel Colindres Solera, Mohammed Rabiul Hasan (Kingsley Eleta-65th), Bishwanath Ghosh, Emon Mahmud, Biplu Ahmed (Md Motin Mia-55th), Md Ibrahim, Sushanto Tripura (Sk Alamgir Kabir Rana-stoppage time), Mohamad Kdouh.
Sree Gokulam Kerala FC: Ubaid Chono Kadavath, Jestin George (Ravanan Dharmaraj-55th), Naocha singh, Andre Dennis Ettienne, Mohammed Irshad Thaivalappil, Muhammed Rashid Kundil, Maya Kkannan, Sebastian Thangmuansang, Nathaniel Jude Garcia, Lal Romawia (Rahul Kothli-90th), Henry Kisekka (Wungngayum Muirang-78th).UNB
