Payyanad Stadium witnessed a tense 1-1 stalemate between Gokulam Kerala FC and Namdhari Sports Academy in the IFL 2025-26 season. Thabiso Nelson Brown’s 33rd-minute strike gave the hosts the edge, only for Seilenthang Lotjem to equalize 40 minutes later, marking back-to-back draws for both squads.
Derrick Perera tweaked his Gokulam lineup, slotting Thabiso Nelson Brown and Aman CK into attack ahead of Rahul Raju and John Kennedy Xavier da Costa. Namdhari coach Harpreet Singh mirrored the strategy, starting Neeraj Kumar over Nishan Singh and Karan Kumar Sharma in defense for Balkaran Singh.
Gokulam seized control early, with Francisco Perdomo Borges pulling strings in midfield during a dominant opening quarter. Namdhari absorbed the pressure, defending resolutely but failing to threaten meaningfully upfront.
Borges’ visionary pass unlocked the Namdhari defense in the 33rd minute, allowing Brown to rifle home and spark celebrations among the home fans. The visitors fought back late in the half, injecting urgency but unable to breach before halftime.
Post-interval, Namdhari shifted gears, utilizing wide areas to stretch Gokulam. Harpreet Singh’s substitution of Abdoulaye Diallo added dynamism to the frontline.
The equalizer came in the 73rd as Diallo teed up Lotjem perfectly, who calmly tucked away the chance. Gokulam pushed for a late winner with Rishad entering for Mirjalol Kasimov at the 85-minute mark.
Added time brought waves of attacks from both ends, but stout defending and wayward finishing preserved the draw. This result underscores the competitiveness of the IFL, with both teams now eyeing victories in upcoming fixtures.