Rajasthan United FC secured their first victory of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2025–26 season in dramatic fashion as Amadou Soukouna’s injury-time strike sealed a thrilling 3–2 win over Namdhari Sports Academy at the Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur on Friday.
In a match that swung wildly in the closing stages, Soukouna’s brace and a goal from Pedro Astray appeared to have put the hosts comfortably in control. However, Namdhari produced a late comeback with goals from Manvir Singh and Najib Ibrahim before Soukouna struck deep into stoppage time to hand Rajasthan United all three points.
The victory lifted Rajasthan United to fourth place on the table with four points from three matches, while Namdhari remained ninth with two points.
Early Pressure from the Hosts
Rajasthan United started the match with intent, pressing high and forcing Namdhari onto the back foot from the opening minutes. Head coach Vikrant Sharma, overseeing his side’s first home game of the season, made five changes to the starting XI, introducing Gautam Virwani, Thomyo L. Shimray, Joseph Lalvenhina, Jonathan Reis and Abdul Samed Ango.
The tactical adjustments paid off early as the home side took the lead in the 13th minute.
A long ball forward caused confusion in the Namdhari defence, and Amadou Soukouna chased it down aggressively. Centre-back Gurshan Singh’s attempted clearance lacked conviction, allowing the French striker to pounce and poke the ball past goalkeeper Niraj Kumar from close range. Soukouna nearly doubled his tally moments later after a slick passing move in the attacking third. His right-footed strike beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the line by Lamine Moro, who produced a crucial defensive intervention.
The hosts maintained their attacking momentum throughout the first half.
Midfielder Pedro Astray came close to adding a second goal when his powerful left-footed strike crashed against the post. Shortly after, right-back Shafeel PP forced a sharp save from Niraj Kumar with a long-range effort. Despite Rajasthan’s dominance, Namdhari gradually settled into the contest and began creating opportunities of their own, particularly from set-pieces.
Watch Indian Live Scores and Play Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
Defender Lamine Moro rose highest to meet a corner delivery and guided a header toward the far post, but the attempt was cleared off the line.
Rajasthan goalkeeper Bhabindra Malla Thakuri also produced two key saves late in the first half. He first parried away a direct free-kick from Seilenthang Lotjem, before diving low to deny Jaskaranpreet Singh’s powerful effort from the edge of the box. The hosts carried their slender 1–0 lead into the break.
Astray Doubles the Advantage
Rajasthan United resumed the second half with renewed attacking intent.
Within minutes of the restart, Niraj Kumar produced a brilliant save to keep out Pedro Astray’s powerful free-kick, but the pressure continued to mount. The breakthrough eventually came in the 57th minute.
Brazilian forward Jonathan Reis unleashed a curling effort from outside the box, forcing the Namdhari goalkeeper into a save. The rebound fell kindly to Astray inside the penalty area, and the Spanish midfielder calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 2–0. The goal was Astray’s second of the season and appeared to put Rajasthan firmly in control.
Red Card Shifts Momentum
Namdhari’s situation worsened when they were reduced to ten men following a moment of indiscipline from defender Lamine Moro. The Ghanaian centre-back received two yellow cards in quick succession first for a foul on Naoba Meitei, and moments later for dissent towards the referee.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the visitors refused to back down and staged a remarkable late fightback.
Watch Indian Live Scores and Play Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
With just seven minutes of normal time remaining, Manvir Singh ignited hope for Namdhari. The forward beat the offside trap to collect a deflected cross and calmly finished past the advancing goalkeeper to cut the deficit to 2–1 in the 83rd minute.
The goal injected fresh energy into the Namdhari side, and they continued to push forward in search of an equaliser. Their persistence paid off in the 90th minute.
Right-back Jaskaranpreet Singh surged down the flank and delivered a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box. The ball evaded the goalkeeper and defenders before Najib Ibrahim arrived to tap home, completing an unlikely comeback and levelling the score at 2–2.
Just when the match seemed destined to end in a draw, Rajasthan United found one final opportunity in stoppage time. A long ball into the box was headed into a dangerous area by defender Gursimrat Singh, and Soukouna reacted quickest. Rising above his marker, the French striker powered a header into the net in the sixth minute of injury time, sending the home crowd into celebration.
The goal completed Soukouna’s match-winning brace and sealed a dramatic 3–2 victory for Rajasthan United.
The result gives Rajasthan United an important boost early in the season as they continue to find rhythm in the newly structured Indian Football League campaign. For Namdhari, the match will be remembered as a frustrating near miss. Despite showing remarkable character to fight back with ten men, their defensive lapse in stoppage time ultimately proved costly.
For Rajasthan United, however, the night belonged to Amadou Soukouna, whose late heroics ensured the hosts walked away with all three points in one of the most dramatic matches of the IFL season so far.
