Srinagar, March 25 A second-half goal by Seilenthang Lotjem helped Namdhari Sports Club defeat Real Kashmir FC 1-0 for their first win of the season in the Indian Football League here on Wednesday.
The victory lifted Namdhari SC to sixth in the table with six points from five matches, while Real Kashmir remain in ninth place with two points from as many games.
Both sides struggled to gain control in midfield during the early exchanges, resulting in frequent turnovers.
The only real moments of concern for either goalkeeper came from isolated efforts. Najib Ibrahim tested Real Kashmir goalkeeper Furkan Ahmad Dar with a low shot from the edge of the box, while at the other end, Niraj Kumar was called into action after Karan Kumar Sharma's misdirected clearance looped towards the goal, forcing the goalkeeper into an acrobatic save.
Namdhari took the lead just after the hour mark through Lotjem. Substitute Manbir Singh delivered a cross to the far post, and Lotjem timed his late run into the six-yard box perfectly, slipping in unnoticed before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
Real Kashmir stepped up the pressure in search of an equaliser but the visitors held on to their slender lead until the final whistle.
Sreenidi Deccan beat Dempo SC 3-1
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In another IFL match in Hyderabad, Sreenidi Deccan FC produced a clinical display to defeat Dempo SC 3-1, moving to the top of the table with 10 points from five matches, while Dempo SC remained at the bottom with two points.
For Sreenidi Deccan FC, R Lalbiakliana (4’), Hadi Idrissou (29’) and Fabrice Kah Nkwoh (69’) were on target, while for Dempo SC, Richmond Kwasi Owusu scored in the 60th minute.