Super League Kerala — Calicut FC books spot in semifinals with win over Thiruvananthapuram Kombans

Calicut FC became the first team to book its spot in the semifinals of the Super League Kerala. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Table-topper Calicut FC punched its ticket for the semifinals of the Super League Kerala (SLK) after notching a 2-1 win over Thiruvananthapuram Kombans in a seventh-round match at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here on Sunday.

Calicut FC, after its fifth win, took its point tally to 17. It extended its lead at the top to four points over second-placed Forca Kochi, while Thiruvananthapuram Kombans stayed fourth with eight points.

Kombans conceded an early penalty when goalkeeper Satyajit Bordoloi fouled Calicut captain Prasanth inside the box. Argentine Maximiliano Nicolas converted the spot kick to put the visitor ahead in the third minute.

Calicut completely dominated the first half, moving the ball through both flanks to create chances. Had Maximiliano and Leonardo David been a little more sharper with their finishing, Calicut could have sealed the contest in the opening half itself.

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Kombans had just one chance in the first half but a lumbering Joao Paredes skied the ball over an open goal. A heavy downpour slowed the game at the half-hour mark before it relented at the start of the second half.

Calicut doubled the lead when Maximiliano and Leonardo exchanged passes before the former provided the perfect pass for the latter to score in the 51st minute.

Patrick Mota tried hard in the midfield to stage a fightback for Kombans, but Paredes wasted a chance on the hour mark. Substitute K. Sreeraj finally pulled one back for Kombans in the 82nd but Calicut held on.

The scores:

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC 1 (K. Sreeraj 82) lost to Calicut FC 2 (Maximiliano Nicolas 3-pen, Leonardo David 51).