Mensah brings Gokulam an injury-time winner

Kovalam defender Ranjith, left, dispossesses Gokulam Kerala ahead Mensah of the ball of their Kerala Premier League semifinal match in Kalpetta on Tuesday. Mensah later scored Gokulam’s match-winner.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Ghanaian Samuel Mensah’s objective, within the fifth minute of harm time, helped Gokulam Kerala FC pull off a 1-0 victory over Kovalam FC within the first of their double-leg semifinal of the Kerala Premier League soccer on the M.Ok. Jinachandran Stadium right here on Tuesday.

Just when the match seemed to be headed to a draw, got here the clincher after a transfer from the left. Mensah trapped the ball along with his proper foot after which tapped it in along with his left as Gokulam heaved a sigh of reduction.

Despite the victory, it was Kovalam — which had misplaced the earlier encounter between the 2 0-4 within the super-six stage and which obtained a last-minute berth into the semifinals after Kerala Police left its seat vacant — which stole the present with its daring efficiency.

Goalkeeper Amal Thomas placed on a sterling present to disclaim Gokulam’s international stars Mensah and Nigerian Godfrey West repeatedly, a show which introduced him the player-of-the-match award.

Taller and stronger, Gokulam moved up comfortably within the first half, advancing usually by means of the left flank with Bibin Ajayan, Ok. Abhijith and Dilip Orawn combining effectively. But there weren’t many crosses into the field.

Desperate for a objective, Gokulam pushed tougher within the second half with right-back Lastborn Mawphinlang shifting up and sending many lengthy balls into the field. After one such transfer, across the fiftieth minute, Thomas got here up with a nice diving save to disclaim Mensah.

And across the hour-mark, Gokulam ahead Godfrey West was unfortunate to see his shot, off a nook, hit the left publish.

After this, the Kovalam boys strengthened their defence and marked West and Mensah effectively, making life troublesome for the forwards. But issues modified within the harm time.

The end result: Gokulam Kerala FC 1 (Samuel Mensah 90+4) bt Kovalam FC 0.