AIFF Media Team

Gokulam Kerala FC 0
drew with 
Rajasthan United FC 0

KOZHIKODE: Gokulam Kerala FC and Rajasthan United FC played out a tense goalless draw in a 2024-25 I-League match at the EMS Corporation Stadium, here, on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

The result left Gokulam Kerala frustrated as the hosts remained winless in the last five matches. They occupy the seventh position in the I-League standings with seven points from six games. Rajasthan United, on the other hand, clinched a crucial point in another away game after winning against Aizawl FC in their last match. They are sixth in the table with seven points in six matches.

With both teams aiming to secure a win, there was plenty of goalmouth action on both ends of the pitch. However, the profligacy of the attackers meant the scoreline remained goalless at the end of first half.

Buoyed by home support, Gokulam Kerala created the most opportunities, the first of which came in the 16th minute. Striker Adama Niane did well in overpowering his marker and feeding Rahul Raju with a ball at the top of the box. But Raju hit his shot straight at Rajasthan United goalkeeper James Kithan.

At the other end, Rajasthan United also came close to scoring the opener when captain Alain Oyarzun hit a free-kick from 23 yards. However, his shot hit the crosspiece.

Gokulam Kerala stepped up their attack and had another shot at the goal when VP Suhair released Ignacio de Loyola Abeledo but Martand Raina made a critical tackle to avert the danger. 

Unable to make any significant penetration in the attacking third, Gokulam Kerala players resorted to taking shots from the distance. In the 35th minute, Abeledo tried a long-ranger but Kithan affected a save. 

It wasn’t only Kithan who was putting on a show but Rajasthan United defenders Wayne Vaz and William Paiuliankhum also came to the party when they stopped a prancing Rahul Raju in his tracks as he threatened to pull the trigger inside the box.

The script didn’t change much in the second half too as Gokulam Kerala continued to dominate proceedings. However, a lack of sharpness in front of the goal meant they failed to score. Rajasthan United defenders too played their part as they didn’t give much space to Gokulam forwards to operate.