Kolkata, October 12: United Sports Club kicked off their IFA Shield 2025-26 campaign with a 1-0 win over Gokulam Kerala FC ending their run, on Sunday at Kalyani Stadium. The player of the match substitute Amit Basak’s goal in the second half brings the victory for United Sports.
The opening minutes saw both teams locked in a midfield battle, with almost the entire first nine minutes played inside Gokulam’s final third. United Sports Club earned the first corner of the match in the 10th minute, but it came to nothing as Gokulam’s defense dealt with the threat comfortably.
In the 18th minute, from the right flank, Harpreet Singh backheeled the ball cleverly to Martínez, who found space and took a long-range shot. However, his effort was narrowly off target.
Gokulam came close to breaking the deadlock in the 21st minute when Rafique received the ball inside the box and unleashed a grounded shot that went inches wide of the post. Just a minute later, Gokulam Kerala created a chance, Matias got the ball inside the box, but his close-range attempt was blocked by United’s goalkeeper, denying what could have been the opener.
In the 30th minute, United’s new foreign signing Christopher stepped into the box from the right, beating his marker with a neat dribble before taking a shot. However, the effort lacked power, making it an easy save for the Gokulam goalkeeper.
Right before half-time, in the 45th minute, Alfred delivered a precise cross into the box. Juancarlos met it with a header from close range, but the United keeper produced a brilliant save to keep the ball out and maintain the goalless scoreline.
The second half started with Gokulam Kerala showing more urgency in attack. Just after the restart, they pushed forward and created an early chance, but their effort went narrowly wide, in the 50th minute, as Alfred tried his luck from distance.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute, when United Sports Club took the lead. Lalremruata from the right side of the box placed an inch perfect ball for substitute Amit Basak, who calmly sent it into the net, putting United Sports Club 1–0 ahead.
Gokulam Kerala, despite seeing more of the ball as the half wore on, lacked rhythm and sharpness in the final third as time went. They created a few opportunities but failed to make them count.
In the 90th minute, United almost doubled their advantage when Lalremruata found himself one-on-one with the Gokulam goalkeeper. His clever chip was brilliantly saved by Rakshit Dagar, keeping Gokulam’s hopes alive.
The Kerala side had one last golden opportunity in stoppage time. Martinez rose highest to meet a cross with a powerful header, but the United keeper got the slightest touch to divert it onto the crossbar, a crucial save that preserved their lead.
With that, Gokulam Kerala’s IFA Shield campaign came to an end, finishing without a point in two matches. United Sports Club, meanwhile, move on to face Mohun Bagan SG in what promises to be a crucial Group B decider.
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