Kerala football has turned over a new leaf in the New Year as the two best clubs in the state have posted back-to-back wins for the first time in the season.

A day after Kerala Blasters made it two wins in a row in the Indian Super League, Gokulam Kerala posted consecutive victories in the I-League, the second-division in Indian men's football.

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Substitute Abhijith K scored the solitary goal against Dempo SC in Goa. The winner came in the 86th minute. Gokulam had crushed Delhi FC 5-0 last week.

On Monday, the Blasters edged Odisha FC 3-2 with a thrilling added-time winner in Kochi. On January 5, the Blasters secured a 1-0 win against Punjab FC after receiving two red cards in Delhi.

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Gokulam have climbed to fourth position on 13 points from eight matches, three behind league leaders Churchill Brothers. Antonio Rueda's Gokulam nearly conceded in the seventh minute when a Shubham Rawat volley bounced off the crossbar. But the visitors gained control and saw a shot of their own rattle the post.

After Ashish Sibi saved Ignacio Loyola's shot from outside the box, and Niane missed a glorious chance for Gokulam, Shibinraj made a save at the other end to keep it goalless at half-time.

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Dempo were kept in the game by their goalkeeper's heroics as he effected a double save in the 51st minute. But he was helpless when substitute Martin Chaves cut back from the byline for his fellow substitute Abhijith to hammer into the roof of the net in the dying moments.

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