Gokulam Kerala on the brink of I-League title triumph after narrow win over Rajasthan United

Rajasthan United restored Gokulam Kerala's six-point advantage, taking them closer to the I-League title here on Saturday. Both defences were on top of their game as one breach in Rajasthan's backline allowed Gokulam to snatch all three points at the Naihati Stadium. The first chance of the half fell to Jourdaine Fletcher as the Jamaican stood over a free-kick after a Mauro Dos Santos foul on Ahmed Razeek. Fletcher struck the wall with his effort as Rajasthan heaved a sigh of relief. Hitting the 10-minute mark, Gokulam keeper Rakshit Dagar came racing out to clear the ball away before it could reach Alocious. The keeper won the race but his desperate header went straight to Biswa Darjee, who scuffed his chance as the wayward shot was nowhere near goal. Ten minutes later, a series of good crosses into the Gokulam box were defended well by the league leaders. On the counter, Emil Benny played a brilliant low ball into the path of Jithin MS.

The Gokulam skipper aimed his header at the far post, beat the keeper but could not beat the crossbar. Shortly after the miss, Fletcher was found in the box by a good ball from Razeek but the striker was denied by Bhaskar Roy. A foul right on the edge of the box allowed Gokulam a good opportunity to score the opener. The league leaders did manage to capitalise on it as Razeek played a perfect cross into the box and an unmarked Fletcher headed home Gokulam's opener. Six minutes later, Rajasthan almost pulled themselves level from their fifth corner of the game. Anil Chawan got his head to the ball right in front of goal but Dagar's point-blank block with his feet kept Gokulam's lead intact. In the closing stages of the first half, Ricky Shabong's shot from the right side was palmed away