IFL 2025-26: Kah strike hands Sreenidi Deccan win over Diamond Harbor

Sreenidi Deccan FC defeated debutants Diamond Harbor FC by a solitary goal in the 2025-26 Indian Football League (IFL) season at the Kalyani Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday.

Cameroonian midfielder Fabrice Kah struck on the hour mark for the Hyderabad side, a goal that ultimately proved decisive in an early-season match.

Diamond Harbor had a brilliant opportunity to draw level from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, but substitute Aryan Niraj Lamba emerged as the hero and produced an excellent save to ensure Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto’s side left with all three points.

The hosts set the tempo early and enjoyed the majority of possession, but clear-cut chances remained few and far between as both sides were wary of conceding. Sreenidi Deccan remained compact at the back and absorbed the pressure with discipline. At the other end, the visitor had a threat on the counter-attack and from set pieces, registering three shots on target and winning three corners before the break.

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The first half ended goalless, but Sreenidi Deccan suffered a setback midway through the opening period. First-choice goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy suffered a non-contact muscle injury and was forced off, with Aryan Niraj Lamba coming on in his place.

The breakthrough came on the hour. Lalromawia scored a beautifully played corner, leaving David Castañeda unmarked in the penalty area. Castañeda’s initial header was parried by Diamond Harbor goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, but the rebound fell kindly to Kah, who reacted quickest to steer home to give Sreenidi a 1-0 lead.

Diamond Harbor head coach Vicuña responded with offensive substitutions, bringing on Hugo Diaz Rodriguez and Halicharan Narzary. The move almost paid off in the 72nd minute when Diamond Harbor were awarded a penalty after Jobby Justin was brought down in the penalty area following a run-over challenge by Sreenidi defender Jagdeep Singh.

However, substitute Lamba emerged as Sreenidi’s savior, making perfect judgment on Mikel Kortazar’s penalty to deny the hosts. After the penalty, Vaz Pinto strengthened his defense in the 78th minute by introducing Deepak DP and Brandon Vanlalremdika in place of Lalromawia and Hadi Idrissou respectively.

With 10 minutes extra after regulation 90, Diamond Harbor threw caution to the wind and applied pressure to the visitor’s penalty area. However, Sreenidi Deccan defended decisively in the late attack to keep a clean sheet and secure a crucial away win.

Published on February 28, 2026