Forgotten Santosh Trophy hero rescues Kerala Blasters again in KPL

Kerala Blasters returned to winning ways in the Kerala Premier League (KPL) with star striker Muhammad Ajsal scoring a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-3 win over Real Malabar FC in Kozhikode.

Ajsal, so often the Blasters' saviour in Kerala's premier men's football league, scored twice in the first half and completed his hat-trick with a late penalty.

Ajsal opened the scoring in the 13th minute, before Real Malabar equalised through Muhammad Niyas in the 22nd minute. Ajsal put the favourites in front again with a 36th minute strike, but their Kondotty-based opponents drew level in the 63rd minute through Mahesh K.

Sherin S made it 3-2 for the Blasters before Ajsal's penalty doubled the advantage. Substitute Sukhil reduced the Blasters' lead with a goal in the fourth minute of added time, but captain Ebindas Y ensured three points with a fifth goal in the final moments.

The Blasters' win was only their second this KPL season. They had won 1-0 against Gokulam Kerala in the event opener at Manjeri on January 27, with Ajsal scoring the late winner.

In their next four matches, the Blasters drew 2-2 with Inter Kerala and St Joseph's College Devagiri and lost 1-2 to Kovalam FC and 0-2 to KSEB respectively.

After six rounds, the Blasters are eighth in the table of 14 teams, with KSEB dominating the event with a perfect record.

Ajsal was one of the Kerala state team's best players at the Santosh Trophy held last December. Kerala lost the final to Bengal, and Ajsal finished third (7 goals) among the leading scorers, behind Robi Hansda (12), the winning-goal scorer in the final, and another Malayali, Naseeb Rahman (8).

Indian Super League (ISL) side Blasters are fielding their reserves squad in the KPL. While the Blasters' reserves still have a chance to make the semifinals of the KPL, the senior team ended their campaign in the ISL, finishing eighth among 13 teams, failing to reach the playoffs.