KPL: Santosh Trophy hero steals late winner for Kerala Blasters against Gokulam

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Kerala Blasters edged Gokulam Kerala 1-0 in the inaugural match of the Kerala Premier League (KPL) at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri on Monday.
Substitute Muhammad Ajsal scored the solitary goal in the 86th minute. Ajsal, who was introduced in the 70th minute in place of Moirangthem Malemnganba, stole the ball from the centre with a last-man tackle before dashing toward the edge of the box and calmly slotting it home.
Ajsal was one of the stars of the state team in the recently concluded Santosh Trophy. Kerala were brilliant in the event, but lost the final 1-0 to Bengal on New Year's eve.
Ajsal was third among the leading scorers in the Santosh Trophy with seven goals, behind Bengal's Robi Hansda (12) and teammate Naseeb Rahman (8).
Blasters, who play in the ISL, and Gokulam, who feature in the second division called the I-League, fielded their reserves squad in the KPL, which is in its 12th season.
The KPL is the premier men's football league in the state. A total of 14 teams are competing this season, the league phase of which will run until March 27.