Srinagar, Dec 2: Real Kashmir FC were held goalless by Aizawl FC in the I-League 2023-24 at the TRC Turf Ground here on Saturday.
It was only the second goalless fixture of the season so far, and the first draw for Real Kashmir. The Snow Leopards have netted eight goals in their last two matches but were unable to find a way past a resilient Aizawl side, which picked up its first clean sheet of the season.
Although they had to settle for a point, the match highlighted Real Kashmir’s solid defensive form as they kept their fifth clean sheet in seven matches. With only four goals conceded so far, Ishfaq Ahmed’s side boasts the joint-best defensive record in the league alongside Mohammedan Sporting.
Aizawl were led by their in-form young forward Lalrinzuala, who has netted six goals this season, including three in the last two matches, but was unable to repeat that on the cool afternoon in Srinagar.
In the second half, Real Kashmir brought in attacking reinforcements in the form of Ateeb Dar and Mohamad Maksoud but to no avail.
With the draw, Real Kashmir remained in third spot with 13 points from seven matches. Aizawl moved up a place to sixth, with 11 points from seven games.
The Snow Leopards will next host current leaders Sreenidi Deccan FC on December 7, while the Reds travel to Kalyani to face TRAU FC on the same day. Elsewhere, After completing six games without suffering a defeat in the ongoing 2023-24 edition of the Indian Super League (ISL), FC Goa brace itself for a pulsating encounter against Kerala Blasters on Sunday.
The Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda – the home of the Gaurs – will bear witness to a clash between arguably two of the best football teams in the country now, both vying for supremacy in the league.
With the Men in Orange unbeaten so far and with Kerala Blasters leading them on the points table by a solitary point, the upcoming showdown promises to be a spectacle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination – potentially a sign of things to come for both teams with the ISL picking up intensity and momentum since the international break in November.
In the pre-match press conference on Saturday, FC Goa’s head coach, Manolo Marquez, expressed his optimism ahead of the game.
“We’ve had a strong start to the season. In our last match also, we created a lot of chances, and had the opportunity to finish the game earlier than we did. We also did well in terms of substitutions, maintaining our positioning on the pitch, and so on.”
“That said, we also know the challenges Kerala Blasters bring. They have good players, and we can’t underestimate their capabilities,” he added.
“Ivan (Vukomanovic, KBFC head coach) and I share a good relationship. He is very competitive, and he has been able to instill that quality in his team.“They’ve played more games than us, but there were also times when they had key players unavailable and they’ve still managed to be on top of the points table as of now. Tomorrow will be a tough game hence – but then every match in the ISL is a battle, and we are prepared for a tough fight.” (IANS)
