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.
