Sreenidi Deccan Fight Back to Hold Real Kashmir to 1-1 Draw in Srinagar

Thabiso Nelson Brown opens Real Kashmir’s scoring account for the season, but David Castañeda’s second-half header earns Sreenidi Deccan a point at the TRC Stadium.

Sreenidi Deccan FC came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir FC in their Indian Football League 2026–27 encounter at the TRC Stadium in Srinagar on Saturday. Thabiso Nelson Brown gave the hosts the lead in the 19th minute, scoring Real Kashmir’s first goal of the season, before Colombian striker David Castañeda Muñoz equalised shortly after half-time.

The result moved Sreenidi Deccan into third position in the standings, while Real Kashmir opened their points account for the campaign and climbed to eighth, moving above Samaleswari SC. Both sides had opportunities to claim all three points, particularly in an engaging second half. Real Kashmir came closest to finding a late winner through Brown, but Sreenidi goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh produced a crucial save in the 80th minute to preserve parity.

Playing in their traditional yellow shirts in front of their home supporters, Real Kashmir began with attacking intent. Midfielders Ningthoukhongjam Rohen Singh, Lalawmpuia Sailo (Omoma) and Mohit Mittal combined with Under-22 forward Khullakpam Zahir Khan to create pressure during the opening stages.

The Snow Leopards earned a dangerous free-kick in the 10th minute, just outside the six-yard box. However, Sreenidi's defensive line, featuring Pritam Kotal, Gurmukh Singh, Nishu Kumar and Jagdeep Singh, managed to deal with the threat.

The visitors soon responded on the counter. Captain David Castañeda broke through the Real Kashmir defence and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Susnata Malik. The Colombian looked well placed to score, but Malik produced an excellent point-blank save to keep the contest goalless.

Real Kashmir continued to push forward, and their pressure produced the opening goal in the 19th minute. Omoma delivered a superb cross into the penalty area, where captain Marcus Leric Jr Joseph rose to meet it with a firm header. Kamaljit Singh saved the initial attempt, but the rebound fell into Brown's path. The Lesotho forward reacted quickly and finished clinically to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.

The goal was significant for Real Kashmir, marking their first of the 2026–27 campaign.

The hosts maintained control through much of the remainder of the first half. Sreenidi, with Pronay Halder anchoring the midfield, found themselves relying largely on counter-attacks. Although the visitors began to string together passes after the half-hour mark, they struggled to break down a disciplined Real Kashmir side.

The Snow Leopards carried their advantage into the interval after dictating much of the midfield battle.

Castañeda restores parity after the break

Sreenidi returned with greater purpose in the second half, and a tactical adjustment helped the visitors find an equaliser just seven minutes after the restart. The move began with Portuguese playmaker Adriano Duarte Castanheira, who made an incisive run before linking up with defender Jagdeep Singh. The latter delivered an excellent cross into the box, where Castañeda rose above the defence and powered a header past Malik in the 52nd minute.

The goal brought Sreenidi back into the contest and shifted the momentum. Having spent much of the first half defending and looking for opportunities on the counter, the Deccan Warriors began to settle into their attacking rhythm.

The equaliser also ensured that the contest remained finely balanced heading into the final stages.

The tempo dropped during the middle portion of the second half as both teams adopted a more cautious approach. With the game level, neither side wanted to concede a decisive second goal. Real Kashmir gradually regained their rhythm in the final quarter, building attacks through a series of passes and pushing Sreenidi onto the defensive.

Their best opportunity to restore the lead arrived in the 80th minute from a corner. Brown connected with the delivery and directed an attempt towards goal, but Kamaljit produced an outstanding save, palming the ball away to keep the score at 1-1.

The closing stages brought further pressure from the hosts. Real Kashmir increased their attacking intensity during the five minutes of added time, with Brown creating another opportunity but failing to convert. Both goalkeepers also sent long balls forward as the teams searched for a late winner. However, Sreenidi's defence held firm despite the late onslaught, ensuring that the visitors left Srinagar with a point.

For Real Kashmir, the draw provided their first point and first goal of the season. Brown's performance, capped by his opening strike, offered an attacking positive, while the team's first-half control demonstrated its ability to trouble opponents at home.

Sreenidi Deccan will take encouragement from their response after falling behind. Castañeda's equaliser reflected the effectiveness of their second-half attacking combination, while Kamaljit's late intervention proved vital in securing the result.

The 1-1 scoreline ultimately reflected a competitive encounter in which both teams had spells of control and opportunities to win. Sreenidi move up to third, while Real Kashmir get their campaign underway with a point in front of their home supporters.