Diamond Harbour completed a dominant Round One campaign in the IFL 2025-26, securing the top spot with 22 points from nine matches. The team’s convincing win over Gokulam Kerala, who languish in the bottom four with eight points, sealed their Championship Round berth.
The match, which took place at the Diamond Harbour Stadium, saw Diamond Harbour take an early lead through a goal from striker Rohan Singh in the 25th minute. Gokulam Kerala pushed hard for an equaliser but were met with a solid defensive display from Diamond Harbour, who held on to secure a 2-1 victory.
Key moments
The match was marked by a string of missed opportunities for Gokulam Kerala, who had several chances to equalise but were thwarted by Diamond Harbour’s goalkeeper, who made several crucial saves throughout the match.
Reaction
Diamond Harbour coach, Ayan Das, praised his team’s resilience and teamwork in the post-match interview, saying, “We knew it would be a tough match, but the boys showed great spirit and determination to secure the win.”
Gokulam Kerala coach, Suresh Chandra, acknowledged his team’s struggles, stating, “We had our chances, but we just couldn’t capitalise on them. We’ll regroup and come back stronger in the next round.”
Implications
Diamond Harbour’s top spot in the Round One standings earns them a direct entry into the Championship Round, where they will face off against the winners of the second-placed teams from each group. The match will take place on May 15 at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
Up next
The IFL 2025-26 Championship Round is set to kick off on May 15, with Diamond Harbour facing off against the winners of the second-placed teams from each group at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
References
- AS
- Sport
