NAVELIM: Gokulam FC and Minerva Academy FC played a 1-1 draw in their all-India Football Federation U-15 Youth League play-offs, at the Rosary College ground, Navelim, on Monday.
In the opening game of the play-offs held in Goa, the two teams shared a point in Group A as they look to move into the finals of the U-15 league.
Minerva FC opened the scoring through Benjohnson Singh in the 32nd minute before a late fight-back from Gokulam FC saw Hemand MM equalise in the 85th minute.
The first half did not have a lot of goal-scoring opportunities. The game was restricted to midfield or inside the Gokulam half as Minerva were dictating the tempo.
Gokulam goalkeeper Mohammed Anshif and his counterpart Jaskarnevir Singh had to make few routine saves.
But all that changed when Minerva defender Benjohnson managed to give his team a breakthrough as he put a header past Anshif.
As the half-time was approaching, Bikash Youmnam picked up a yellow card which were the two notable incidents in the first-half.
However, Benjohnson’s goal was a decisive one that helped them go into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
As the second half commenced, the momentum was with Minerva and they started dominating the game and pushed Gokulam FC into their own half.
Samsom hit the side-netting after some good work by the Minerva forward. He was having a good game and offered an attacking edge to his team.
The Gokulam defence were made to put in an extra shift as Minerva were attacking from all sides.
They dominated midfield and also the possession as Gokulam were not able to get out of their own half.
They had keeper Anshif to thank for making some important saves. He made some timely saves to deny the likes of Arjun and Samson and also snuff out the danger from set-pieces.
Despite being dominant, Gokulam FC didn’t let their heads down or give up. Even though the Minerva defence stood tall, they kept pushing forward.
In a rare foray forward for the Kerala team, Abhishek was running at goal in between the two centre-backs, Bikash put in a clumsy tackle from behind, just outside the edge of the box.
The defender was given his second yellow card.
Hemand MM stood over the ball and curled in a spectacular free-kick that sailed over the Minerva wall and into the net in the 85th minute as both teams split the points.
