Nishu Kumar’s 66th-minute strike settles Sreenidi Deccan 1-0 win over Rajasthan United in IFL opener
Sreenidi Deccan FC opened their IFL 2026–27 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Rajasthan United at the Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Nishu Kumar scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute to secure all three points for the Deccan Warriors.
Rajasthan United began the match with greater intensity, probing down the flanks through wingers Thomyo Shimray and Brijesh Giri to test Sreenidi’s defence. That backline, marshalled by Pritam Kotal and Hadi Idrissou, kept former ISL Golden Boot winner Diego Maurício from meaningful chances. The visitors’ first clear opportunity came when Adriano Castanheira found Jerry Mawihmingthanga in the box, but Jerry sent his effort well over the crossbar. Rajasthan won several corners and worked the wide areas, yet goalkeeper Karanjit Singh was not seriously troubled in the opening period.
David Castañeda, playing his sixth season with Sreenidi Deccan, struck the crossbar just before the drinks break after a move that began with him releasing Jerry Mawihmingthanga down the right. The winger returned a low, perfectly weighted cross that Castañeda could only direct against the crossbar. Sreenidi enjoyed the majority of possession for the remainder of the first half but both teams remained cautious, and the score stayed level at half-time.
Rajasthan United started the second half brightly, with P. Christopher Kamei rattling the crossbar with a ferocious left-footed strike from distance. Moments later Foday Trawally came close with a right-footed effort from the edge of the area. In the next passage the Gambian midfielder combined with Diego Maurício and Ricky Vanlalhriatsanga; Ricky then dribbled past two defenders and his left-footed shot sailed over the crossbar.
Sreenidi Deccan regained control and broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark with a well-worked move. Lalromawia advanced on the right and fed Adriano Castanheira at the edge of the box; Castanheira laid the ball off to David Castañeda, who threaded a pass into the path of the overlapping Nishu Kumar. The experienced full-back kept his composure and curled a finish into the far corner to make it 1-0 in the 66th minute.
Head coach Antonio Rueda introduced substitutes to shore up the lead while Giuseppe Cristaldi adjusted his Rajasthan United side in search of an equaliser. The Desert Warriors pushed for a response, with Pronay Halder and Sreenidi’s defence resisting sustained pressure. Diego Maurício produced the team's closest attempt when his powerful right-footed strike from inside the box narrowly missed the post, and Sreenidi goalkeeper Amrit Gope made two important saves to deny Castañeda and Brandon Vanlalremdika, preserving the slender advantage.
The Hyderabad-based side held firm to protect its one-goal lead, starting the season with a solid 1-0 victory and securing all three points in their IFL 2026–27 opener.
