Gokulam Kerala FC Win I-League 2020-21 on Exciting Final Day of Season

Gokulam Kerala FC registered an exciting 4-1 win over TRAU FC on the final day of I-League 2020-21 to win the title on Saturday. Both Gokulam Kerala and TRAU needed a victory on the final day of the season to win the title and the Kerala side trumped the Manipuri team to bag the coveted title. Goals from Sharif Mukhammad, Emil Benny, Dennis Agyare Antwi and Muhammed Rashid in the second half helped Gokulam Kerala FC get the win and the trophy. Gokulam Kerala is the first Kerala side to win the I-League.

Churchill Brothers FC Goa were simultaneously playing against RoundGlass Punjab FC and had to win their game and hope for a draw in Gokulam Kerala vs TRAU. Churchill did get an edgy 3-2 win over Punjab but with Gokulam beating TRAU, they fell short of getting the title.

Churchill had scored all the three goals in the first half with Luka Majcen converting a penalty in the eighth minute and Clayvin Zuniga scoring in the 25th minute and stoppage time. Punjab fought back in the second half with Joseba Beitia (66′) and Baba Diawara (69′) scoring but could not stop the Goan side from winning the game.

This is Gokulam Kerala’s first I-League title and the league has now got a different winner for the sixth straight season. Mohun Bagan had won the title last season but they merged with Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK and moved into the ISL.

TRAU’s Bidyashagar won the Golden Boot as he finished as the top scorer of the league with 12 goals. He had 11 goals before the final day while Antwi and Majcen had 10 each. All three scored in their last matches and Bidyashagar emerged on top.

Here are the rest of the awards:

Best Goalkeeper: Kiran Limbu (Punjab FC)

Best Defender: Hamza Kheir (Churchill Brothers)

Best Midfielder: Phalguni Singh (TRAU FC)

Best Emerging Player: Emil Benny (Gokulam Kerala FC)

Syed Abdul Rahim Award for Best Coach: Leimapokpam Nandakumar Singh (TRAU FC)

Hero of the League: Bidyashagar (TRAU FC)

Gokulam had more possession in the first half but it was TRAU who got the lead through their season’s hero Bidyashagar Singh in the 24th minute. Gokulam pushed after going down but the Manipuri side held on to the lead and went into the break leading 1-0.

However, Gokulam came with renewed vigour in the second half and troubled TRAU immensely. They were awarded a free kick in the 69th minute and a minute later, Sharif, with a clever flick, found the back of the net from the free kick to bring Gokulam back in the game.

From there Gokulam got the lease of life and pushed even harder. Benny and Antwi scored in quick succession within three minute of each other to give the Kerala side a commanding lead.

TRAU had a golden chance to pull one back in the 80th minute and put Gokulam under pressure in the final few minutes but missed the big chance.

However, the drama didn’t end there. Vincy Barretto was shown his second yellow card and hence, the red card in the fourth minute of stoppage time, leaving Gokulam with 10 men for the last couple of minute.

However, with what was the final kick of the game, Rashid found the back of the net to rub salt on TRAU’s wounds.

Despite a fantastic season, TRAU were found wanting in the final while Gokulam dominated them and took the title. Churchill Brothers, who had the advantage for most part of the season, were left to rue their slip-ups as the title slipped through their hands.