Kozhikode: Calicut FC became the first team to secure a semifinal ticket in the Amul Sports.com Super League in Kerala. They defeated Malappuram FC 3-1 in the Malabar Derby held at EMS Stadium. Jonathan Pereira, Muhammad Ajsal, and Federico Buoso scored for Calicut, while Aytor Aldalir netted the lone goal for Malappuram. Malappuram’s Gani Ahmed Nigam received a red card during the match. After eight rounds, Calicut leads with 17 points, while Malappuram is in fourth place with 10 points.
In the ninth minute, Malappuram’s captain Hakku and Badar attempted to convert a corner into a goal but missed narrowly. Calicut took the lead in the 12th minute when Jonathan Pereira scored from long range, leaving Malappuram’s young goalkeeper Jaseem unable to stop it (1-0).
During the first half, Gani Ahmed Nigam, El Forci, and Irshad from Malappuram, along with Jonathan Pereira from Calicut, received yellow cards. Asif’s shot hit Malappuram’s goalpost in the 40th minute.
At the start of the second half, Malappuram made substitutions, bringing in Ishaan Pandit and Aytor Aldalir. In the 54th minute, Gani Ahmed Nigam received a second yellow card and was sent off for a foul on Roshal.
In the 70th minute, El Forci’s pass to Ishaan Pandit was stopped by Calicut’s goalkeeper Hajmal. Afterward, Calicut gave chances to Bruno Kunj and Arun Kumar. In the 80th minute, Malappuram equalized with a free kick converted by substitute captain Aytor Aldalir (1-1). Just two minutes before the end, Muhammad Ajsal’s header regained the lead for Calicut (2-1). Ajsal remains the top scorer in the league with six goals. Federico Buoso’s injury-time goal secured the victory for Calicut (3-1). A total of 34,173 fans attended the match.
In the first leg held in Manjeri, both teams had ended in a 3-3 draw.
On Thursday (November 27), Thrissur Magic FC will face Forces Kochi FC in the first match of the ninth round. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM at Thrissur Corporation Stadium.
Live:
The match will be broadcast live on Sony Ten 2, DD Malayalam, and Sports.com. In the UAE, it can be watched on the ethisalat vision channel (number 742).