AIFF Media Team
Inter Kashi (Mario Barco 47’, 59’, Joni Kauko 90+5’)
beat
Sreenidi Deccan FC (David Castenada Munoz 33’)
KALYANI: Mario Barco’s return from injury marked a spectacular evening as he scored a brace to spearhead Inter Kashi’s 3-1 comeback victory over Sreenidi Deccan in the year’s last match of the I-League 2024-25 at Kalyani Stadium on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Following a first-half deficit, Barco’s goals in the 47th and 59th minutes reignited the hosts, with Joni Kauku sealing the win in the final moments. Sreenidi Deccan initially took the lead through David Castenada Munoz at the 33rd minute mark.
The game was not without its dramas, as a floodlight failure caused a 21-minute suspension in the 18th minute, and Inter Kashi later found themselves a man down after Karthik Panicker received his marching orders in the 84th minute. These incidents set the stage for a thrilling contest, reflecting the intense drive of Antonio Lopez Habas’s team to bounce back from recent setbacks including two draws and a loss.
The win took Inter Kashi to second spot in the league standings with 11 points in six games. The Deccan Warriors, on the other hand, suffered their second consecutive loss and occupy the 11th position in the points table with six points from six games.
It was Sreenidi Deccan, though, who took the lead in the 33rd minute. Faysal Shayesteh delivered a corner from the left and Castenada used his strength to good effect to rise above the Inter Kashi defenders and head home a beautiful goal.
However, Inter Kashi’s response was swift and fierce. They nearly equalised minutes later when a deflected shot hit the woodwork. The persistence paid off early in the second half when Edmund Lalrindika’s corner from the left found Barco, who smartly flicked it past the crowded Sreenidi Deccan defence to level the score.
The momentum shifted firmly in favour of Inter Kashi in the 59th minute. A sequence of attacks culminated in a penalty when Kauko’s forceful shot was parried by goalkeeper Ubaid CK, only for Lalrindika to be fouled by Emboklang Nongkhlaw during the follow-up. Barco confidently converted the penalty, giving his team the lead with a shot into the top right corner, leaving Ubaid with no chance.
Inter Kashi were reduced to 10 men in the 84th minute when Panicker was shown the second yellow card of the match for his demonstrations after the referee Shantan Agarwal refused to award a penalty to Inter Kashi.
Sensing that they could make use of the numerical advantage, Sreenidi Deccan tried to fight back. But Inter Kashi’s defence, led by goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja, stood resolute.
The final nail in the coffin was delivered by Kauko. Lalrindika released Kauko with a through ball before the midfielder struck a potent right-footed shot to secure a critical win for his team.
