Gokulam Kerala’s I-League campaign concluded on a high note with a resounding 6-1 victory over TRAU on Friday. The triumph, however, came too late for Gokulam, as Mohammedan Sporting had already secured the title.
The two-time champion finished with 42 points from its 24 games, while Mohammedan has 52 points and Sreenidi Deccan 45, both with a game in hand. TRAU, which ended at the bottom of the 13-team league, has 13 points.
Gokulam’s skipper Alex Sanches opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a fine pass from P.N. Noufal. Noufal, who has been one of the standout players in the tournament, continued to impress, scoring in the 28th and 34th minutes to give Gokulam a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time.
TRAU managed to pull one back through Issahak Seidu in the second half, but injury-time strikes by Matija Bobovic and Nikola Stojanovic sealed the emphatic victory for Gokulam.
Despite the impressive performance, Gokulam’s title hopes were dashed by Mohammedan’s consistent form throughout the season. The Kolkata-based club has been in dominant form, winning 16 of its 23 games and drawing only three.
Gokulam’s victory over TRAU serves as a consolation for the team, which has shown glimpses of its potential throughout the campaign. The club will now look to build on this performance and challenge for the title next season.
