IFL 2025-26: Sreenidi Deccan beats Chanmari to stay in title race

Sreenidi Deccan FC defeated Chanmari FC 2-1 to keep their title hopes alive in the Indian Football League (IFL 2025-26) match at the Deccan Arena, in Hyderabad, on Saturday.

The Deccan Warriors went into the match knowing that only a win would keep their title hopes alive and raced into a two-goal lead inside 23 minutes through Lalromawia and David Castañeda, with Marlon Rangel scoring for the visitor in the 27th minute.

Sreenidi Deccan started the match at a high pace and took the lead in the 10th minute. Fabrice Kah delivered a cross into the penalty area, which was cleared by Castañeda for Brandon Vanlalremdika, whose scuffed shot fortunately rolled into Lalromawia’s path. The attacker made no mistake from close range and pushed the ball into the back of the net. A few minutes later, Kah found the net himself, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside.

The home team doubled its lead in the 23rd minute with a quick counter-attack. Fabrice Kah struck past the challenge of two defenders on the left flank before firing a low cross towards the edge of the penalty area, where Castañeda ended up. The striker unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that curled into the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season.

Chanmari halved the deficit just four minutes later after Sreenidi Deccan goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh failed to deal with a direct free-kick from center back Marlon Rangel. The defender’s effort from almost thirty meters slipped through the hands of the experienced goalkeeper and ended up in the net.

The first half flew by with both teams playing entertaining attacking football as Sreenidi looked to improve their goal difference while Chanmari pushed hard for an equalizer. Abhijith K saw his volley well saved by the Chanmari goalkeeper, while at the other end Kamaljit Singh got down smartly to deny Lalpekhlua’s effort.

Fabrice Kah, who proved difficult to contain the Chanmari defense in the first half, saw a couple of his efforts drift narrowly wide of the post, while Lalromawia failed to generate enough power on his shot to trouble the goalkeeper as the Deccan Warriors headed into half-time with a one-goal lead.

The home side slowed the pace in the second half, allowing Chanmari more possession and inviting them forward. The visitors created the first try after the restart with a long-range shot that was comfortably scored by Kamaljit Singh, who looked calm after his earlier mistake in the first half. The goalkeeper was called into action again on the hour mark, this time making a fine save to deny Lalpekhlua’s effort.

The Deccan Warriors showed little urgency to increase the tempo of the match, with the onus falling on Chanmari to look for the equalizer. Sreenidi was content to create openings through counter-attacks and set-pieces, and his best chance of the half came from such a situation.

Castañeda tapped in a corner at the near post and found Hadi Idrissou unmarked at the far post, but the Togolese defender failed to direct his header on target from six yards out, missing a golden opportunity to extend his side’s lead.

The visitor was unable to mount a strong challenge as Sreenidi looked comfortable in defense and eventually bowed out of the match to keep their title hopes alive.

Published on May 16, 2026