19th December, Hyderabad: Sreenidi Deccan Football Club suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to Gokulam Kerala in a Matchweek 11 I-League clash here at the Deccan Arena stadium on Tuesday. The Malabarians produced a first half blitz, scoring thrice to take the game away from the Deccan Warriors and added another early in the second half to complete the rout even though William Alves scored a consolation penalty kick for the home side late on.

The game started on an even keel as both teams tried to control possession but it was Gokulam Kerala who got the breakthrough in the 9th minute via Spanish attacker Nili Perdomo who danced his way into the Sreenidi Deccan penalty area and finished coolly past goalkeeper Albino Gomes. The home side pressed hard for an equaliser and they came close through Rosenberg Gabriel’s scuffed shot in the 24th minute but it went wide.

Gokulam Kerala then doubled their lead through captain Alex Sanchez who had the simple job of a tap-in at the back post after some good work down the right by Perdomo. And the Malabarians were not done as they punished Sreenidi Deccan on the counterattack at the end of the first half through Sreekuttan VS who ran the length of the field and finished clinically.

The second half also started on a bad note as Alex Sanchez took advantage of a miscommunication between Albino Gomes and defender Sajid Dhot as he walked the ball into an empty net in the 52nd minute. Substitute William Alves was brought down in the penalty box in the 75th minute and he converted the resulting spot kick to put Sreenidi Deccan on the scoreboard but the damage was already done.

Sreenidi Deccan FC will now compete in the Kalinga Super Cup in January where they have been placed alongside Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Hyderabad FC in Group A.