KPL: KSEB crush Kerala Blasters, enter semis

Nijo Gilbert
Nijo Gilbert receives the man-of-the-match trophy from I M Vijayan. Photo: By Special Arrangement

Kochi: Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) crushed defending champions Kerala Blasters 4-1 to storm into the semifinals of the Kerala Premier League (KPL) at the Maharaja's College Ground, here on Saturday.

KSEB and Kerala United finished with 12 points in the six-team Group B. However, KSEB topped the group on head-to-head record. Blasters ended fourth and bowed out with seven points from five matches, while Mar Athanasius FC finished third with a tally 10 points.

Nijo Gilbert drew first blood for KSEB in the 34th minute, while Eldhose George doubled the lead six minutes later.

Vighnesh made it 3-0 in the 81st. Ajish completed the tally for the winners with three minutes to go. Naorem Mahesh Singh pulled one back in added time, but it was too little too late for Blasters.

Royal Bosco outplayed FC Kerala 4-0 in Group A to complete the semifinals line-up. Though SAT Tirur and Kerala Police too ended up with six points, Royal Bosco scraped through on goal difference. Gokulam Kerala had topped the group with 15 points from five matches.

KSEB will take on Royal Bosco in the first semifinal at Kochi on Monday. Gokulam Kerala and Kerala United will clash in the second semifinal at Thrissur on the same day.

The final will be held at Kochi on Wednesday.

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