Kolkata: Lukman Adefemi scored a hat-trick as Real Kashmir defeated NEROCA in a goalfest in the I-League on Saturday. Gokulam Kerala too triumphed over TRAU on the same day.
In the first match of the afternoon, Gokulam beat Tiddim Road Athletic Union Football Club 3-1 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. Emil Benny opened the scoring for Gokulam in the 16th minuting striking a sumptuous left-footed volley. Despite having attempted more shots on the target, TRAU failed to make the most of it.
Gokulam turned up the heat in the latter part of the game with Sharif Mukhammad doubling the lead on 57 minutes before Zodingliana Ralte put the icing on the cake for Gokulam. The hosts however got their consolation late in the game through Komron Tursunov.
However, the game in the evening saw an absolutely thrilling contest ending with Real Kashmir beating NEROCA 4-3 at the Kalyani Stadium. Both sides had their fair share of ball possession playing an end to end football throughout the match.
Adefemi opened the scoring for the hosts heading home from a set-piece before adding another from the penalty spot while Mason Robertson’s 35th-minute thumping header Kashmir in the driving seat.
Goals from Varney Kallon and Khaiminthang Lhungdim before half-time put some hopes for the visitors setting-up the tone of the rest of the game.
Songpu Singsit kept his composure in front of the goal to make it 3-3 for NEROCA. However, Kashmir didn’t lose spirit and got their winner through Adefemi who completed his hat-trick to seal the deal for his side.
