IFL: Sreenidi Deccan Draw With Real Kashmir

Hyderabad: Sreenidi Deccan Football Club played out a 1-1 draw against Real Kashmir FC in the second round of the Indian Football League (IFL) at the TRC Stadium in Srinagar on Saturday.

Thabiso Brown opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute, but forward David Castaneda restored parity for the Deccan Warriors in the 52nd minute.

Head coach Antonio Rueda made two changes to his starting XI, with Hadi Idrissou and Jerry Mawia making way for Victor Teister and Gurmukh Singh. New signing Nicolas Morinigo was also named among the substitutes.

The Deccan Warriors started the game enjoying the majority of possession, but it was the hosts who created the first opportunity through an indirect free-kick inside the box, which they failed to direct on target. Minutes later, Adriano came close to scoring but failed to generate enough power on his effort to trouble the goalkeeper.

Castaneda had the best opportunity of the half shortly afterwards when Adriano’s pass sent the Colombian through on goal. However, his effort went straight at the goalkeeper.

Real Kashmir took the lead in the 19th minute when Brown found the back of the net from a set-piece. Despite efforts from the Deccan Warriors to get back into the game, the hosts went into the half-time break with a one-goal advantage.

Debutant Nicolas Morinigo was introduced at the start of the second half, replacing Victor Teister. The Deccan Warriors immediately stepped up their attacking intent and began dominating proceedings in search of an equaliser. Their efforts paid off just six minutes into the second half. Jagdeep Singh delivered a perfectly weighed looping cross into the box, which Castaneda converted to bring the Sreenidi level at 1-1.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but resolute defensive displays ensured that neither could find a breakthrough.

The Deccan Warriors will now travel to Shillong to face Shillong Lajong FC on Friday.