Kolkata, December 13: Gokulam Kerala FC face I-League outfit Mohammedan SC in the quarterfinal of the IFA Shield at Kalyani Stadium here on Monday.
The Malabarians, who had a tepid start in their opening match, returned to winning ways as they crushed BSS SC, 7-2, in the second match to progress into the quarterfinal.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC has reached the quarterfinal, winning all the matches in Group ‘A’ with convincing victories. In the first match, they defeated Kidderpore FC, 4-0, and in the next match, they got better at Kalighat MS, 1-0.
“Each day we need to improve a lot. The match against Mohammedans will be very interesting. They have quality players. But we have to win and progress to the next round,” said Gokulam Kerala FC head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese.
The Kozhikode-based I-League is in good form as all of their forwards were able to find the net in the second match. Ghanaian forward Dennis scored four goals while local lads Jithin MS and Shibil also found their names on the score sheet. Another scorer for Gokulam was Malian forward Saliou Guindo.
“The boys have played with good intensity and have asked him to keep the same intensity for every match. The matches will get only tough as the season progress, and I believe that every match we have to play with the eagerness to win. For that we have to work hard,” said the gaffer.
Other than Ashok Singh, who is out with a niggle, the coach has the whole squad to select from. The match will be live on the youtube channel Xtra Time Bangla.
Fixture: Gokulam Kerala FC vs Mohammedan’s SC, Kalyani Stadium, 1 PM
