I-League 2023-24: Gokulam’s Sanchez hat-trick sinks Rajasthan; Shillong Lajong held by NEROCA
Both Shillong Lajong and NEROCA climbed a couple of places in the table. Bobby Nongbet’s Lajong is now 9th with two points from as many games, while NEROCA lifted itself off the foot of the table to move to 11th.
Published : Nov 09, 2023 19:42 IST , Kozhikode - 1 MIN READ
Gokulam Kerala’s Alex Sanchez celebrates scoring a hat-trick against Rajasthan United in the I-League match. | Photo Credit: K. RAGESH
After conceding a draw in the opening match, former champion Gokulam Kerala’s I-League campaign seems to be shaping up nicely. The host registered its second win within four days, as it thrashed Rajasthan United 5-0, riding on a hat-trick from Alex Sanchez.
Gokulam went ahead in the 33rd minute through Komron Tursonov, who gave the finishing touch to the superb pass into the box by Nili Perdomo. Sanchez made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, with just his second touch after coming on as a substitute, as he headed home an excellent corner-kick by Edu Bedia.
After V.S. Sreekuttan struck eight minutes later, Sanchez added to Rajasthan’s miseries, even as Gokulam moved to the top of the table, with seven points, in these very early days of the competition.
Earlier in the day, Shillong Lajong and Neroca played out a 1-1 draw at Shillong.
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Shillong Lajong FC earned a point on I-League’s return to the Meghalaya capital after a gap of four seasons, holding fellow North-eastern side NEROCA FC to a 1-1 draw here on Thursday.
Shillong Lajong and NEROCA FC in action in the I-League match at the S. S. A. Ground in Shillong. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media
Lajong, who had also drawn 1-1 with Mohammedan Sporting in Naihati last week, took the lead through its Brazilian midfielder Renan Paulino in the 34th minute.
However, NEROCA bounced back in the second half, equalising through Jamaican striker Fabian Reid in the 79th minute.
The results:
(with inputs from PTI)