Sreenidi Deccan FC edge past Rajasthan United FC 2-1
Sreenidi Deccan FC registered a dramatic 2-1 win over Rajasthan United FC in the IFL Championship Stage opener. Late goals from Hadi Idrissou and David Castaneda sealed victory after Isaac Nortey gave the hosts an early lead
Hyderabad: Sreenidi Deccan FC edged past Rajasthan United FC 2-1 to secure three crucial points in the opening match of the Championship Stage of the IFL at the Namdhari Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.
Togolese defender Hadi Idrissou scored the equaliser for the Deccan Warriors in the 92nd minute, and David Castaneda scored the winning goal in the 95th minute of the match. Earlier, Isaac Nortey of the hosts had scored the opening goal.
Head Coach Carlos Vaz Pinto made a single change to his starting eleven, as Lalromawia made his way back after serving his suspension, replacing Lalchungnunga. The Deccan Warriors started the game with majority of the ball possession and earned an early corner, but the visitors were unable to trouble the opposition keeper.
It was in the 24th minute of the game that the Deccan Warriors had their first shot on target. Fabrice Kah dribbled past two defenders down the left flank, and the Cameroonian was able to find David with a cutback, but the Colombian forward’s left-footed strike was parried away by the keeper. The rest of the half saw both sides share possession while looking for the opening goal, but the scoreline remained goalless as the teams went into half-time.
Sreenidi Deccan FC had its first clear chance of the second half in the 47th minute, when Hammad’s header from a corner ricocheted off the keeper, and David failed to connect with the rebound. Moments later, it was the hosts who found the back of the net through a direct free-kick from Isaac Nortey. Colombian forward David Castaneda had a few more chances in the next quarter of an hour but failed to find the equaliser for the Deccan Warriors.
The Deccan Warriors left it late in added time to secure three points. It was in the 92nd minute when Hadi Idrissou headed the ball into the back of the net from a long throw-in to equalise. Two minutes later, captain David Castaneda took matters into his own hands from a free-kick and put the ball into the back of the net to secure the win for the Deccan Warriors.
Sreenidi Deccan FC will now visit Diamond Harbour FC on May 3 in Kolkata.
