(Image: Rajasthan United FC)
Namdhari FC 1 (Wayne Vaz 18’, og)
lost to
Rajasthan United FC 3 (Alain Oyarzun 51’, pen, Seiminmang Manchong 73’, Wayne Vaz 85’)
AIFF Media Team
SRI BHAINI SAHIB: Rajasthan United FC staged a 3-1 comeback victory over hosts Namdhari FC in the I-League 2024-25 at the Namdhari Stadium on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
After a fairly lacklustre start, Namdhari took the lead fortuitously in the 18th minute of the game via an own goal. A long ball played from the back was volleyed into the Rajasthan net by defender Wayne Vaz as he was put under pressure by Akashdeep Singh in the box.
The goal while fortuitous wasn’t far away from reflecting the run of play, Namdhari utterly dominant and regularly winning the ball in dangerous areas whenever Rajasthan tried to play out from the back. It was constant pressure but a lack of application at the end that let them down.
Akashdeep conjured up a great chance for himself in the 34th minute, twisting and turning at the top of the box, curling an attempt to the far corner with his right. James Kithan in Rajasthan’s goal was up to the task, diving and tipping the ball over the crossbar.
Three minutes later came Rajasthan’s first real chance, an opportunity that again was more due to individual desire than anything else. Having run into the box, Naoba Meitei twisted, faked and left two defenders in his wake before rolling a low dangerous cross across the face of goal. Namdhari’s defence was left flatfooted and a simple tap in was all that was required. There was no one there to provide it.
Rajasthan slowly worked their way back into the game. The half time break did not affect the visitors’ momentum and the renewed desire and speed from the wings brought them just reward soon after when William Neihsial was brought down inside the box by Namdhari defender Manvir Singh. Spanish recruit Alain Oyarzun duly converted the spot kick to draw them level in the 51st minute.
The pendulum had swung in Rajasthan’s favour and yet, Namdhari were not completely devoid of their own chances to wrestle the lead. The best chance fell to Cledson Dasilva, in the 70th minute. The Brazilian made the perfect run and connection from a corner, only to see his glancing header drift inches wide.
Rajasthan made them pay for that miss when Seiminmang Manchong dribbled and outwitted three Namdhari defenders outside the box, before unleashing a low effort at goal in the 73rd minute. The shot, while powerful, wasn’t exactly destined to hit the bottom corner of the net, Jaspreet Singh’s desperate flailing attempt wasn’t enough to end its journey early. Rajasthan had the lead. Namdhari made things worse for themselves when they had a player sent off with 10 minutes of the game to be played.The cherry came with Vaz’s redemption in the 85th minute of the game when the defender finished Namdhari off, tapping in from close range after Jaspreet had saved Ronny Pena’s header from a well-delivered free kick.
