Indian Football League: Real Kashmir Continue Surge with Dominant Win Over 10-Man Gokulam Kerala

Real Kashmir FC continued their impressive resurgence in the relegation stage of the Star Cement Indian Football League 2025-26 with a commanding 3-0 victory over 10-man Gokulam Kerala FC at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The Snow Leopards secured their third consecutive win through an own goal from Vitor Barata before second-half strikes from Shedrack Charles and Mohammad Inam sealed a comfortable evening for the Srinagar-based side. The result lifted Real Kashmir to 11 points and second place in the relegation-stage standings, while Gokulam Kerala remained dangerously close to the drop zone with eight points, just one above the relegation places.

Despite the final scoreline, it was Gokulam Kerala who began the match with greater attacking intent. The Malabarians nearly opened the scoring inside the opening two minutes when Rahul Raju’s left-footed volley drifted narrowly wide after Bouba Aminou intelligently brought down a set-piece delivery inside the box. Moments later, Gokulam threatened again through a dangerous cross from Rahul Raju that appeared destined for Moses Lalrinzuala at the far post before Habib Fofana produced a vital defensive intervention.

The early exchanges suggested Gokulam were prepared to play aggressively despite their difficult league position. However, Real Kashmir gradually settled into the contest and began using possession more effectively through midfield.

Real Kashmir grow into the game

As the first half progressed, Real Kashmir increasingly looked the more composed side. Shedrack Charles became particularly influential with his direct running and physical presence in the attacking third. The Nigerian forward produced one impressive solo run midway through the half, beating multiple defenders before forcing goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunniyil into a sharp save from a tight angle. Goalkeeper Shibinraj was called into action again soon after, this time reacting well to deny a powerful long-range effort from Marius Obekop.

The pressure eventually produced the breakthrough in the 26th minute.

Real Kashmir opened the scoring through an unfortunate own goal from Gokulam defender Vitor Barata following a dangerous corner delivery. Obekop’s inswinging set-piece caused confusion at the near post as Ahteeb Ahmad Dar attacked the ball aggressively. Although Ahteeb failed to make direct contact, his movement disrupted Barata’s positioning and the defender’s attempted clearance looped into his own net.

The goal shifted momentum firmly in Real Kashmir’s favour. Gokulam Kerala’s problems worsened shortly before the drinks break when Bouba Aminou received his second yellow card of the match for an aggressive challenge on Oinam Sanatomba Singh.

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The dismissal left the Malabarians with ten men for the majority of the game and significantly altered the tactical balance of the contest. Yet, despite the numerical disadvantage, Gokulam still managed to create promising opportunities before halftime.

Their best chance arrived late in the first half when N. Shigil’s powerful effort from distance was parried by the goalkeeper. The rebound fell invitingly for Thabiso Brown, but the striker could only lift his attempt straight into the hands of Furkan Ahmad Dar. Real Kashmir entered the break with a narrow one-goal advantage, though the game still felt far from settled.

Any hopes of a Gokulam comeback quickly disappeared after the restart. Real Kashmir doubled their lead in the 49th minute through another set-piece situation. Obekop’s corner was initially punched clear by Shibinraj, but Mohammad Inam reacted quickly to recycle possession back into the penalty area. The ball eventually struck Shedrack Charles and rebounded off the post before falling kindly back to the Nigerian striker, who tapped home from close range.

The second goal visibly drained Gokulam’s confidence. Just three minutes later, Real Kashmir effectively ended the contest with one of the most unusual goals of the season.

Gokulam goalkeeper Shibinraj attempted to release the ball quickly after collecting a loose pass outside his area, but his throw was intercepted by Real Kashmir captain Mohammad Inam in midfield. Spotting the goalkeeper stranded off his line, Inam showed remarkable composure to loft a perfectly judged effort from nearly 35 yards into the empty net.

The strike capped an excellent all-round performance from the Real Kashmir skipper and gave the Snow Leopards complete control of the match.

With a three-goal cushion secured early in the second half, Real Kashmir shifted focus toward controlling possession and managing the tempo. The side looked increasingly comfortable circulating the ball while forcing the ten-man Gokulam side to chase the game with limited attacking numbers.

Gokulam showed occasional flashes of attacking intent during the final quarter, but their numerical disadvantage became increasingly apparent as the game progressed. Real Kashmir’s defence remained organised throughout the closing stages and rarely looked troubled.

The victory continues a dramatic turnaround for Real Kashmir in the relegation phase. After struggling for consistency earlier in the campaign, the Snow Leopards now look significantly more organised, disciplined, and confident. Three consecutive victories have pushed them into second place in the relegation-stage standings and created valuable breathing space above the danger zone.

For Gokulam Kerala, however, the situation is becoming increasingly tense. The Malabarians remain second from bottom and continue to struggle with defensive errors and discipline issues at crucial moments. With the relegation battle tightening further, both teams now head into the final stretch of the season carrying completely different momentum trajectories.