Trijoy scores 98th minute winner to save Gokulam from relegation

Panaji: Gokulam Kerala FC pulled off a dramatic escape to save themselves from relegation in the Indian Football League (IFL) after Trijoy Dias struck deep into stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win in the Relegation Phase at Deccan Arena, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.

Heading into the contest against Namdhari FC knowing that only a win would keep their survival hopes alive, Gokulam held their nerve in a tense and fiercely-contested encounter before Trijoy delivered the decisive blow in the eighth minute of added time, sparking scenes of jubilation on the Gokulam bench and heartbreak for Namdhari.

Namdhari, who started the evening on 10 points, needed a draw to survive, while Gokulam, who began at the bottom on nine points, pushed ahead to finish on 12 points.

Namdhari have now been relegated to I-League 2, the third division of Indian club football.

Had Gokulam got relegated, it would have been a huge blow for a club that won the I-League twice. Both triumphs came during the Covid-19 pandemic years, and at a time when the I-League winners did not get promoted to the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL).

After remaining defensively resolute for almost the entirety of the contest, Namdhari suffered a devastating late lapse at the worst possible moment.

Vitor Hugo Freitas floated a long ball into the penalty area and goalkeeper Niraj Kumar came off his line in an attempt to punch clear, but failed to get enough on the ball. Centre-back Bouba Aminou, who was deployed as a makeshift striker, got his head to the ball. With Namdhari unable to clear their lines, Trijoy reacted quickest to rifle the loose ball into the net and save Gokulam from relegation in dramatic fashion.

For long periods, it appeared as though Namdhari had done enough to secure safety with the draw they required. However, Gokulam’s relentless push for survival finally paid off at the death as Trijoy’s late intervention ensured the two-time champions avoided relegation in the most dramatic fashion possible.