Kolkata, Dec 15: Real Kashmir FC showed tremendous resilience to pull off a stunning 2-1 win over a spirited Sreenidi Deccan FC and lift their second successive IFA Shield title here on Wednesday.
The David Robertson-coached side endured a below-par outing in the first half as the I-League debutants from Vizag dominated with their superior tactical and technical display, with a 30th-minute strike by their Colombian centre-forward David Castaneda Munoz.
Deccan FC staved off some valiant attacks by RKFC in the second half and all they had to do was to see through the final three minutes to win a maiden title on debut. But their inexperience came to the fore as RKFC made a dramatic turnaround riding on their dependable Spaniard and Scottish duo of Fran Gonzalez and Mason Lee Robertson who struck one each.
In the last edition, RKFC had pulled off an identical 2-1 win over George Telegraph with their goalkeeper Mithun Samanta saving a penalty in the closing minutes.
The club’s elated owner, Sandeep Chattoo, dedicated the win to the die-hard fans and supporters of RKFC in the valley. RKFC attacking midfielder Girik Khosla set it up from the left as Munoz tapped the ball brilliantly and turned it around to fire in a powerful right-footer to give Deccan the early advantage.
Sanchez brought up the equaliser in the 90+3rd minute to take the match into extra time. It was Mason who set it up with a clinical centre from the right as Sanchez chested the ball before shooting from an acute angle.
In the 100th minute, Mason seized on a superbly connected centre from Pratesh Shirodkar and towered above his rival defender for a winning header.
Deccan FC gave it their all and also brought in their goalkeeper CK Ubaid into the attack in the dying minutes of the extra-time but RKFC defence held on. (PTI)
