Gokulam Kerala reduced the gap with table-toppers Churchill Brothers to three points following a 3-1 win over Namdhari FC in the I-League. With this, the I-League has entered an exciting home stretch, as Kozhikode-based Gokulam have joined Churchill, Inter Kashi, and Real Kashmir in a four-way title race.

Two late strikes from Adama Niane (81) and Nacho Abeledo (90+2) got Gukulam three points from the away fixture. Thabiso Brown had put Gokulam ahead in the 57th minute, but Manvir Singh equalised just six minutes later.

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Namdhari received two red cards in the match; Defender Sukhandeep Singh was sent off in the 27th minute, while their Brazilian forward De was given a red card in the 60th minute, reducing the hosts to nine men.

The win, their second in a row and fourth in the last five matches, has taken Gokulam to 31 points from 19 matches, while Churchill and Inter Kashi have 34 points each from 18 matches. Real Kashmir are third on 32 points from 18 matches.

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Gokulam have two more matches in the league, both away -- to Sporting Club Bengaluru (March 22) and Sreenidi Deccan FC (March 30). Churchill and Inter Kashi play each other in their final fixture, which could play a crucial role in the title race.

Gokulam are hoping to win the I-League that would give them promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL), which is the top flight in the country, where they would join another state side Kerala Blasters. Gokulam missed out on promotion last season by finishing runners-up.

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