Zokirov’s goal helps Rajasthan United defeat Mohammedan Sporting by 1-0 – ThePrint – ANIFeed

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India]28 February (ANI): Rajasthan United FC clinched back-to-back I-League wins here on Tuesday at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan after beating a listless Mohammedan Sporting by a single goal.

Rajasthan United always controlled the game and the difference between the two sides was much bigger than Otabek Zokirov’s lone goal.

Not that Rajasthan United played an overwhelming game and won by 4-5 goals, but they soaked up the pressure whenever Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s men managed to mount an attack. After converting everything in his path against Sreenidi Deccan, Mohammedan Sporting somehow returned today to that directionless game that was his biggest undoing this season. Kean Lewis, a great hero of the last game, was a shadow of himself. So were Abiola Dauda and Mirlan Murzaev. Marcus Joseph’s substitution in the 60th minute didn’t change that.

Atai Dzumashev had another good game, providing the assist for Zokirov’s ninth-minute goal. It was a corner from the left that was delivered perfectly into the box, where Zokirov rose unchallenged to head it through the far post.

Murzaev had the golden opportunity to equalize just before the breather. Dauda crossed the goal from the left side of the box and, unlike a few other occasions, Murzaev kept his powerful left foot in goal. But Rajasthan United skipper and hero of the game Melroy Assisi did the most heroic thing possible – cleared it from the goal line.

The ball went wide for the corner and then came the only moment that could be blamed on the home side’s bad luck. Nikola Stojanovic lobbed in a perfect corner from the right which Sandip Mandi headed back to the far post. It beat all but the upright ones.

The only other real chance for Mohammedan Sporting came in the 74th minute, when Dauda finally found space in Rajasthan United’s box to have his shot on goal, but goalkeeper Vishal Joon saved the scorer with both hands.

From building attacks too slowly to losing the ball easily, Mohammedan Sporting’s players made all sorts of mistakes. On the other hand, Rajasthan United’s defense played a near-perfect game as evidenced by defender Melroy emerging as the hero of the game. There were always enough men in front of Joon to reduce the firing angles and Melroy and Novin Gurung’s tackles were always perfectly timed. As a result, Mohammedan Sporting was reduced to Long Ranger. But they could hardly keep them on target.

The result gives Pushpender Kundu’s men even more breathing room as they move up to seventh place in the I-League standings with 25 points from 20 games. (ANI)

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