In the dying seconds, debutant Crislan Henrique, with a superb header, ensured Gokulam Kerala would open the Indian Football League campaign on the right note. And that was the Brazilian’s second goal of the night at the Corporation Stadium.

Gokulam defeated Samaleswari SC 3-2. It was the first-ever match in the IFL for the Odisha club, and though it put up a decent fight, and also had some good fortune, but could not quite match the two-time champion.

Gokulam looked determined to take control right from the start and went ahead in the 16th minute through a powerful strike with his left foot by Crislan. Nine minutes later, Makan Chothe made it 2-0. A fine cross by Yendrembam Naresh Singh into the box was headed down by Victor da Silva for Chothe to provide the finishing touch.

The host led 2-0 at the end of the opening half, in which it enjoyed 53 percent possession and had four shots at the target (Samaleswari had none).

The visiting side, however, had a huge slice of luck half-an-hour into the second-half, when Mohammed Rafi scored an own goal, in his attempt to clear a throw-in.

Then Jorge Pereyra Díaz converted a penalty to equalise for the Odisha team. Crislan, however, fetched Gokulam the three full points, heading in the cross from Sachu Siby.

The result: Gokulam Kerala 3 (Crislan Henrique 16 & 90+7, Makan Chothe 25) bt Samaleswari SC 2 Mohammed Rafi 75-og, Jorge Pereyra Díaz 90-pen).