MALAPPURAM: Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, held on to a single goal lead against SS College, Areacode, to become the first team to enter the quarterfinals of TNIE GOAL 2017 all-Kerala inter-collegiate football tournament at Malappuram District Sports Council Stadium on Thursday. This, despite the winning team being down to 10 men for the better part of the second half.
The only goal of the game came in the 28th minute after Nirmala captain Ajith Sivan converted a penalty awarded for a foul on their forward Sachin T Sivan. Though SS College received a boost when their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute, they failed to defeat the resolute defence of their opponents.
SS College boasted a starting line-up which included Asharudeen P, fresh from his stint for the Kerala state football team in the south zone qualifiers of 71st Santosh Trophy national football championship, which concluded at Kozhikode on Tuesday. However, the team from the host district dug their own grave when their defender Mohammed Fayas K tripped Sachin from behind after the Nirmala forward went past him inside the box. Nirmala’s captain then stepped up to take the penalty kick and wrong-footed SS keeper Hijas V K to clinch the deciding goal.
While SS tried to hit back instantly, Muhammed Rizwan failed to make proper contact with an inviting cross, fluffing his shot wide off the target. And, although Nirmala midfielder Gokuldeep E was shown the second yellow card of the game and given marching orders early in the second half, the leading team, to their credit, compensated for the loss with their strong defence. SS College’s chances to equalise came only in the dying moments of the game when they went all out on the offence. SS College’s Nishad A created two chances to equalise, once when he hit a deflected shot straight to the opposing keeper. However, the tie-breaking goal never came, allowing Nirmala to emerge victorious.