I-League | Stanisavic’s hat-trick fires Gokulam to first home win

Gokulam Kerala‘s Sinisa Stanisavic, right, who scored three goals, in action against Inter Kashi in the I-League match at Kozhikode.
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

It was a tennis score, yes, but Gokulam Kerala’s 6-2 win over Inter Kashi was a lot more. It wasn’t as hopelessly one-sided as the scoreline might indicate, especially in the first half, in which the visiting side took the lead twice.

This was the best the Gokulam men played this season. And it was their first win at home, in what was their fifth game at the Corporation Stadium.

The match, which featured some excellent end-to-end football, got off to a stunning start with Bryce Miranda putting Kashi ahead with a brilliant solo effort in the third minute.

But seven minutes later, Sinisa Stanisavic equalised for Gokulam and he would score twice more. In the 27th minute, Matija Babovic struck to make it 2-1 for Kashi, but, just three minutes later, Stanisavic once again brought his team back into the match.

Then Gokulam took the lead for the first time, with Nacho Abeledo scoring in the first half’s injury time. He finished off in style too, with a brilliant long-ranger, from near the centre line, in the second half’s injury time.

The result: Gokulam Kerala 6 (Sinisa Stanisavic 10, 30 & 73, Nacho Abeledo 45+2 & 90+5, Sergio Llamas 50) bt Inter Kashi 2 (Bryce Miranda 3, Matija Babovic 27).