I-League: Kerala outclasses Bagan with Kisekka’s last minute goal

A spectacular half-volley in the last minute saw Henry Kisekka finding the Mohun Bagan net which ensured that Gokulam Kerala FC, the debutante, scoring a memorable win at the home of one of the most successful teams of the country. The I-League match at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday saw drama unfolding in the final 13 minutes of action where Gokulam Kerala scored twice against a reply from Bagan to complete a 2-1 win.

Mahmood Al Ajmi scored the opening goal for the visitors late in the 76th minute before Aser Dipanda Dicka levelled the issue for Mohun Bagan within a minute. Kisekka then produced his stunning goal in the last minute of the regulation time to ensure the full quota of points for Gokulam, which was lying at the bottom of the table before the match.

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With two experienced forwards upfront – in Cameroonian Dicka and Lebanese Akram Moghrabi – Mohun Bagan dominated the action for most of the time. But it was the effective counter-attacking game that helped the visitor turn victorious in the end.

Gokulam coach Bino George made four changes in the starting line up and the visitor made a breezy start with its attacker Daniel Addo getting his name first in the list of attempts. The first half ended barren as the host lacked the resolve the break the deadlock.

Bagan came back strongly after the break with Moghrabi alone missing three chances within the first 20 minutes. The Lebanese forward slipped again in the 63rd minute when he failed to push the ball into an empty net.

As the host attack kept faltering in the striking zone, the visitor opened its account in the 76th minute as Al Ajmi found the Bagan off an assist from Kiseka, who chested down a long ball and released the former with a square pass.

It took Bagan only a minute to equalise through Dicka, who diverted home an assist from Moghrabi’s substitute Bimal Magar. As the match appeared to be headed for a draw, the Ugandan striker Kisekka turned it in favour of Gokulam Kerala with his spectacular effort.

The result: Mohun Bagan 1 (Aser Dipanda Dicka 78) lost to Gokulam Kerala FC 2 (Mahmood Al Ajmi 76, Henry Kisekka 90).