REAL KASHMIR FC DEFEATED defending champions Chennai City FC 2-1 in Srinagar today in their very first home match of the season,
The Snow Leopards took a double lead in the first half, with Danish Bhat and Bazie Armand finding the net, aided on both occasions by Kallum Higginbotham.
In the second half, Chennai City FC fought back hard with Katsumi Yusa leading the way. Minutes after the match resumed, Syed Suhail Pasha scored for the defending champs. For much of the rest of the half CCFC pressed hard with their attack but the hosts were able to sit back and absorb the pressure, ensuring the win.
Watch this pivotal clash right here courtesy the I-League official Facebook page...
The victory means that Real Kashmir FC have kept their remakrable 100% win record against Chennai City FC intact. They are undefeated this season, with 5 points from 3 matches. Chennai City FC, who were missing 3 of their key foreign players due to injury today, are going through a rough patch at the start of their campaign with just 5 points from 5 matches. But coach Akbar Nawas would take comfort from the way the team fought back under pressure against a strong team like RKFC in the second half.
Real Kashmir FC are set to host Mohun Bagan on 5th January in their next outing, while Chennai City FC will travel to Kozhikode to face Gokulam Kerala FC. Both matches, apart from being hugely popular fixtures involving clubs with robust fanbases, will go a long way to shape both these clubs' seasons as well as the way the I-League title race plays out in the near future.