Gokulam Kerala FC are on a hot streak; A Liberian does the trick for FC Kerala and Golden Threads’ form is frayed at the edges at the end of Matchday 5 of the Kerala Premier League 2018-19.
GROUP A
Balan salvages a point for FC Thrissur
Group A, 22 March 2019, Thrissur: FC Thrissur 2-2 SAT Tirur
The former Churchill Brothers forward Bineesh Balan scored with an acrobatic attempt in the 90th minute to help the home side to a draw and a point.
Having lost the reverse fixture earlier in the season, SAT Tirur were determined going into this game and took the lead in the 49th minute with Ibrahim Kabba getting on the score sheet.
Ten minutes later, Thrissur pulled a goal back courtesy Akhil Praveen. SAT would soon restore their lead with Ayoob the goal scorer (67′).
Down a goal, the home side poured forward in search of a goal and eventually, a spectacular acrobatic shot by Bineesh Balan meant the teams shared the spoils.
FC Kochi vs SBI Kerala
Group A, 24 March 2019, Ernakulam: RFC Kochi vs SBI Kerala
Reports indicate SBI Kerala have withdrawn from the tournament.
Kerala Blasters on the up
Group A, 26 March 2019, Tirur: SAT Tirur 0-2 Kerala Blasters [R]
The reserve side of Kerala Blasters FC picked up their second win of the season and are level on points with table toppers FC Kochi.
Both goals came in the second half (47′, 61′) and the goal scorer on both occasions was 18 year old Surag Chhetri* (to be confirmed).
Sports Academy Tirur have only won once this season and they’ve slipped into third place in Group A.
FC Thrissur vs SBI Kerala
Group A, 27 March 2019, Thrissur: FC Thrissur vs SBI Kerala
Reports indicate SBI Kerala have withdrawn from the tournament.
Kerala Blasters [R] vs SBI Kerala
Group A, 29 March 2019, Ernakulam: Kerala Blasters [R] vs SBI Kerala
Reports indicate SBI Kerala have withdrawn from the tournament.
GROUP B
FC Kerala bounce right back
Group B, 23 March 2019, Thrissur: FC Kerala 2-1 Shooters United Padane
After losing to Gokulam Kerala FC in their previous game, FC Kerala bounced right back to pick up a win over Shooters Padane. Shooters Padane United are recent entrants to the Kerala Premier League and have won their opening two fixtures.
The Liberian Harry Morris scored a goal in each half (17′, 60′) to help the home side to a win. Shooters Padane pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute with Vishnu getting on the score sheet.
However, they couldn’t find another goal to level the scores and the game ended in defeat for the team from Kasargod.
Kovalam FC draw a blank again
Group B, 23 March 2019, Trivandrum: Kovalam FC 0-1 Gokulam Kerala FC
Kovalam FC slumped to their fourth defeat from as many games and they are at the bottom of Group B.
Gokulam Kerala FC left it late in the second half to get themselves a goal. The crowd favourite and 20 year old Ghanian forward Christian Sabah scored in the 80th minute to secure all three points.
The win marks a fourth straight win for the defending champions and they sit pretty on top of Group B.
Gokulam give themselves some room at the top
Group B, 27 March 2019, Ernakulam: Golden Threads FC 1-3 Gokulam Kerala FC
Gokulam Kerala eased past Golden Threads and picked up their fifth win in as many games.
The defending champions took a two-goal lead in the first half. The first goal came in the 10th minute with the Ghanian forward Charles Folley and Shihad combining while the second was scored by Ganeshan towards the end of the first half.
In the second half, Gokulam conceded an own goal (57′) and let Golden Threads FC back in the game. But the home side could not mount a comeback against a strong Gokulam side and instead conceded a third in second half stoppage time – the goal scorer was Christian Sabah.
Christian Sabah shoots straight to see Gokulam through
Group B, 29 March 2019, Malappuram: Gokulam Kerala FC 2-1 Shooters United Padane
A goal by the Ghanian forward Christian Sabah in the 90th minute ensured Gokulam Kerala kept their perfect record this season in the Kerala Premier League intact.
The home side opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with Shihad getting on the score sheet.
Shooters United would pull a goal back to level the scores in the second half (75′) thanks to Vishnu and for a while it looked like the match would end in a draw – until Sabah popped up to see his side through.
GROUP TABLES
Group A
| pos | team | p | w | d | l | gf | ga | gd | pts |
| 1 | RFC Kochi | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kerala Blasters [R] | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | SAT Tirur | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 5 |
| 4 | FC Thrissur | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 5 | SBI Kerala | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 |
| 6 | Indian Navy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group B
| pos | team | p | w | d | l | gf | ga | gd | pts |
| 1 | Gokulam Kerala FC | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | FC Kerala | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 6 |
| 3 | Shooters United Padne | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 6 |
| 4 | Golden Threads FC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 15 | −11 | 3 |
| 5 | Kovalam FC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
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