I-League: Dream start for Real Kashmir, beat Minerva Punjab 1-0

Panchukula: Real Kashmir FC Wednesday stunned defending champions Minerva Punjab FC in a sensational start to their maiden I-League campaign, taking the first step towards realising the beginners' dream of making the 'Paradise on Earth' a "paradise for football".

The first team from the Valley to play in the country's top-flight, Real Kashmir FC scored the game's only goal through Gnohere krizo's 74th minute strike, giving the rival goalkeeper no chance to stop the ball that was travelling in great speed.

It was a tight affair and Minerva Punjab FC paid for their profligacy in front of goal.

Minerva's Ghanaian forward William Opoku had the first good chance of the game just before the quarter of an hour mark, when an excellent ball from Amandeep, from inside the Minerva half, found Opoku in the clear in the Kashmir box with a defender on his shoulder.

Opoku trapped and fired only for Hero of the Match Bilal to bring about the first of his many good saves on the day to deny Minerva the lead.

Opoku combined well with Makan Chothe on a couple of occasions but the youngster was once caught offside and on the other occasion took too much time with the ball.

They finished the half with a couple of corners, from one of which defender Lancine Toure connected with a good header from close but Bilal was up to it again.

Minverva's sense of urgency was evident in the beginning of the second half as in the first three minutes they had two excellent chances to score. In the first, Ivorian Alexandre's powerful shot from inside the box was tipped over by Bilal and hit the bar and then Opoku's powerful drive from outside the box met with another save by Bilal.

In the 73rd minute, quite against the run of play, off a free kick inside the Minerva half, Krozi got hold of the ball inside the Minerva box, turned and unleashed a powerful drive which beat Minerva goalie Bhaskar Roy at the near post.