Three first-half goals gave Punjab FC a comfortable 3-0 win over Gokulam Kerala FC in the Group C opener of the Super Cup in Goa on Monday.
Muhammad Suhail, Nikhil Prabhu and Princeton Rebello scored the goals for the Shers as they secured all three points.
Punjab’s Samir Zeljkovic tested Shibinraj Kunniyil in the opponent’s goal with a long ranger in the first minute of the match, which was pushed away.
The Shers took the lead in the next minute and Suhail continued his goalscoring form. He cut in from the left wing and his cross took a huge deflection off Gursimrat Singh and found the net on the wrong foot for the goalkeeper.
Punjab continued to put pressure on the opposition, with Kipgen forcing a diving save from the goalkeeper. Princeton Rebello’s resulting corner was expertly diverted by Nikhil, who found himself free in the penalty area to give his side a two-goal lead.
Gokulam, stunned by an early two-goal lead, entered the match in the next phase, with Eduardo Martinez hitting the crossbar twice, once from a direct free kick.
Punjab scored the third goal two minutes before half-time, while Princeton Rebello scored his first for the Shers. The local boy received the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Suhail and his right-footed shot found the bottom corner past the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands as Punjab went into the break with a commanding lead.
Gokulam were awarded four corners within five minutes, but they were handled smoothly by the Punjab defense. Muheet pushed away a powerful strike from Alfred Moya from a free kick to keep the score intact.
The match was decided when Gokulam Kerala substitute Trijoy Dias was shown a straight red card five minutes before the end for his high boot on Ricky Shabong. The Shers were content to defend in a low block and continued to counter-attack as they wrapped up the game without any major action in the remaining time.
Punjab FC will take on Mohammedan SC in the next group match on November 2.
Published on October 27, 2025
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