Kalyani, April 18 (NationPress) Diamond Harbour FC has solidified their position at the top of the standings with a decisive 5-2 victory against Gokulam Kerala FC in the Indian Football League (IFL) 2025-26 held at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal. This defeat has relegated Gokulam Kerala into the lower tier.

Bouba Aminou initially put the Malabarians ahead in the 17th minute, but Luka Majcen quickly equalized for Diamond Harbour. Hugo Díaz then scored two goals in rapid succession early in the second half, followed by additional strikes from Jobby Justin and R. Ramdinthara, ensuring a comprehensive win for the home side. Rahul Raju managed to score Gokulam Kerala’s second goal. For his exceptional performance, Hugo Díaz was awarded the Player of the Match.

Diamond Harbour completed the first round firmly in first place with 22 points from nine matches, while Gokulam Kerala lingered in the relegation zone with only eight points from the same number of fixtures.

Kibu Vicuña made two adjustments to the home team’s lineup, substituting Alberto Moyano and Halicharan Narzary for Sunday Afolabi and Bryce Miranda. In contrast, Gokulam Kerala's coach Dimitris Dimitriou implemented four changes, placing Rakshit Dagar in goal for the suspended Shibinraj Kunniyil and bringing in Athul Unnikrishnan, Mirjalol Kasimov, and N. Shigil to replace Armand Bazie, Benjamin Kuku, and Gursimrat Singh.

Diamond Harbour began the match aggressively, creating their first opportunity within the opening minute. Hugo Díaz took a shot from the edge of the box, but it went straight to Rakshit Dagar. The home side maintained the majority of possession, yet Gokulam Kerala appeared to be creating more significant chances.

Trijoy Dias cut in from the left and fired a low shot that was saved by Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. Thabiso Brown's attempt also missed the target, while Kasimov's long-range shot went over the bar.

The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute after sustained pressure from a corner kick. Bouba Aminou was completely unmarked in the box and headed home from Kasimov’s delivery.

Shortly after, Thabiso Brown struck the crossbar, followed by another chance where confusion in the Diamond Harbour defense prevented a clearance, allowing Robilal Mandi to intervene before the ball crossed the line.

Diamond Harbour equalized shortly after the drinks break with a well-executed play. Paul Ramfangzauva sent a perfectly timed through ball to Jobby Justin, who crossed it for Luka Majcen, enabling him to head it past the goalkeeper and score against his former team.

Gokulam Kerala continued to press for a second goal, with Rahul Raju and Moses Lalrinzuala posing challenges for the Diamond Harbour defense with their speed and skill. Rahul had a couple of scoring opportunities, with one saved by Dheeraj and another that went over the bar as the first half concluded even.

The second half kicked off at an exhilarating pace, with four goals scored within the first 15 minutes, alongside several missed opportunities.

Hugo Díaz ignited the scoring frenzy, netting two goals in three minutes. His first came from a setup by Luka Majcen, who found Halicharan Narzary on the left. Halicharan then delivered a ball into the box, allowing Díaz to calmly finish without any pressure.

Two minutes later, Díaz capitalized on defensive errors from a long throw, volleying the ball home after it deflected off Mikel Kortazar.

Just four minutes later, Rahul Raju scored for the Malabarians, reducing the deficit to 3-2. Thabiso Brown set up Moses Lalrinzuala, whose cross found Rahul, who powered in a header.

In pursuit of an equalizer, Gokulam Kerala pushed forward, but it was Diamond Harbour who struck next, extending their lead to 4-2. Robilal Mandi sent a high ball to the back post, where Jobby Justin headed it past the goalkeeper.

Hugo Díaz nearly completed his hat-trick shortly after, but his header from Halicharan’s cross hit the crossbar. At the other end, Brown and substitute Benjamin Kuku tested Diamond Harbour's defense as Gokulam Kerala sought additional goals.

Diamond Harbour capitalized on a counter-attack, exploiting Gokulam Kerala’s defensive weaknesses to score their fifth goal. Halicharan set up substitute Ramdinthara, who confidently slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

Despite conceding five goals, Gokulam Kerala continued to press for more, with Benjamin Kuku and Brown actively creating opportunities. Kuku forced a superb save from Dheeraj, tipping the shot onto the post, and a rebound opportunity for Aman C.K. went over the bar.

Ultimately, no further goals were scored as Diamond Harbour concluded Round One of the Indian Football League with a resounding victory, establishing at least a four-point lead at the top of the table. The loss confirmed Gokulam Kerala’s placement in the bottom four, putting the two-time champions in a challenging situation for their remaining matches.