Kerala Blasters suffered their first defeat in the Kerala Premier League at the hands of bottom-ranking Kovalam FC in Kozhikode on Monday.

Substitute Shagil T S scored the winner in a 2-1 result. The Blasters were reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute when midfielder Sahil Khurshid received a second yellow for a foul just outside the box.

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Shahir S had put Kovalam ahead from the penalty spot in the 64th minute. Substitute Muhammad Ajsal, who came on a minute before Kovalam scored, equalised in the 79th minute.

The Blasters had won a match and drawn another before tonight, while Kovalam had lost both their previous games, conceding 7 times. The Blasters, who play in the Indian Super League, are fielding their reserves side in Kerala's top men's football league.

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The Blasters' senior side lost 2-0 to FC Goa in the ISL last week and remain in danger of missing out on the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. The Blasters were 8 points behind sixth-placed Mumbai City and will need a miracle to qualify with only three league games left in the ISL season.

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