Gokulam Kerala FC clinch the Kerala Premier League Title

Gokulam Kerala defeated Quartz 2-0 in the final of the 2018 Kerala Premier League to be crowned champions of the fifth edition of the tournament run by the state football association.

Substitutes Brian Umony (69') and Arjun Jayaraj (87') scored in the second-half following a goalless first-half to ensure the win for Gokulam Kerala at the Corporation Stadium ground in Thrissur. Hristijan Denkoviski, VP Suhair, Emmanuel Chigozie all started the game for the Malabarians.

The win hands head coach Santiago Valera his first major trophy after taking over from Bino George recently.

Gokulam Kerala had defeated Sports Academy Tirur 1-0 while Quartz beat FC Thrissur 4-2 in the semi-finals. The previous winners of KPL which started in 2013 are Eagles FC, State Bank of Travancore (back-to-back) and KSEB.

Quartz FC with Carlton Chapman at helm conceded in the second half as Brian Umony rounded up the defense and placed it calmly past the reach of the Quartz Keeper in the 69th minute.

Quartz switched tactics and resorted to direct play by committing too many men forward allowing the I-League side to exploit the back four. The game was put to bed when Arjun Jayaraj made it 2-0 for Gokulam Kerala FC in the 87th minute.

The I-League side lifted the cup in a sparsely filled stadium in Thrissur.