AGENCIES, SRINAGAR: Real Kashmir sustained their unbeaten run in the 2022-23 Hero I-League with a 1-0 win over Churchill Brothers at the TRC Stadium in Srinagar on Monday.
A second-half header by substitute Ibrahim Nurudeen proved decisive and it brought the hosts their first-ever win over Churchill Brothers in the I-League.
Although Churchill dominated the early moments, the first clear-cut chance fell to the home side at the quarter-hour mark when midfielder Yakubu Wadudu’s shot was deflected onto the post by goalkeeper Albino Gomes.
The Churchill defence was finally breached in the 76th minute as Gomes’ parry from the corner kick dropped for Bawitlung at the edge of the box, who lobbed it back into the box for substitute Ibrahim Nurudeen to head home.
Real Kashmir remained at the top of the table with 10 points from four games (three wins and a draw), while Churchill have just a point from four outings.
Results: Real Kashmir FC 1 (Ibrahim Nurudeen 76’) Churchill Brothers 0.
RoundGlass Punjab: 2 (Majcen 16, p; Devrani 78) Aizawl 1 (Lalthanmawia 27).
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Churchill Bros lodge protest
Churchill Brothers FC has officially lodged a protest against Real Kashmir FC for fielding four foreigners in Monday’s match at TRC Polo Synthetic Turf Ground, Srinagar, which the hosts won 1-0 according to a spokesperson of the club. The Goans allege that Real Kashmir fielded a fourth foreigner, Ghanaian Ibrahim Nurudeen, who replaced Tajikistani forward Nozim Babadzhanov in the 65th minute. The Kashmiri side, however, realised their mistake and rectified it within two minutes with another substitute. Another Ghanaian forward Issahak Seidu made way for an Indian midfielder Moirangthem Meitei making it three foreigners in the 67th minute. “We have written to the All India Football Federation regarding the same matter,” the source said.
