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What's the story?
Kerala Blasters midfielder Deependra Singh Negi became the youngest player to score a goal in this season's Indian Super League, when he stuck out a leg to score against Delhi Dynamos at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, on Saturday.
In case you didn't know...
Deependra Singh Negi is an AIFF Elite Academy graduate who was a former India U17 national team captain. He was the captain of the AIFF team that won the Subroto Cup back in 2015 and later he decided to move to Spain to undergo trials at the young age of 18.
Negi signed a professional contract with Spanish club CF Reus that played in the second division of Spanish football, Segunda Division.
The heart of the matter
Saturday's ISL fixture saw Kerala Blasters take on Delhi Dynamos in Kochi and a new record was created on the pitch when Deependra Singh Negi scored in the 47th minute.
The young Negi came on to replace Karan Sawhney at the start of the second half and made his ISL debut. Deependra created history as he scored from his first touch in the 47th minute from a corner. Negi's effort restored parity in the match as Kerala Blasters were down one goal after a penalty scored by Kalu Uche.
Not only that, but his goal also helped the Blasters turn the match on its head, as he earned a penalty late in the second half, after he was fouled in the box. The subsequent spot-kick was perfectly slotted in by Iain Hume, to make it a 2-1 win for Kerala.
Negi is just 19 years and 67 days old, as he usurped the previous youngest scorer, Delhi's Lallianzuala Chhangte who had become the youngest player to score this season back in November 2017 against FC Pune City.
What's next?
Deependra Singh Negi made a mark for the Kerala Blasters with his debut appearance in the ISL and we can expect great things from the youngster further in the season.
Author's take
Apart from creating history, Negi proved the faith of David James with his dynamic performance on the pitch. He certainly can become a star in the future for Kerala Blasters and the Indian side as well.
