Crislan's Late Header Secures Victory for Gokulam Kerala

In a thrilling match at the Corporation Stadium, debutant Crislan Henrique scored a late header to secure a 3-2 victory for Gokulam Kerala against Samaleswari SC in the Indian Football League. This match marked the first-ever appearance for the Odisha club in the league.

Crislan opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a powerful left-footed strike, followed by Makan Chothe extending the lead to 2-0 just nine minutes later. Gokulam dominated the first half, holding 53 percent possession and registering four shots on target, while Samaleswari failed to make any attempts.

The second half saw a twist when Mohammed Rafi scored an own goal, allowing Samaleswari to reduce the deficit. Jorge Pereyra Díaz later converted a penalty to equalize for the visitors. However, Crislan's second goal in stoppage time clinched the win for Gokulam, ensuring a strong start to their campaign.