Cosmos FC go through
A brace from Joby Philip helped Cosmos FC to defeat Zeiko SC Idukki 4-0 and go through to the pre – quarter finals of the 34th Kerala State Club Football Championships. The team from Kottayam will now face I-League Second Division outfit Malabar United on 5th December.
Unlike what the score suggests, the match was evenly contested. Cosmos FC playing 3 strikers upfront looked more composed and showed better finishing than their rivals. Joby Philip who was featured in Kerala Santosh trophy 2009 probables list, struck twice in aspan of 5 minutes (20′ & 25′) to take the match away from Zeiko.
Joby got another chance in the 30th minute to complete his hat-trick but he shot it over the crossbar.
On the other hand, Zeiko were creating chances but each time a shot was taken, the ball flew over the post by a long way. The story never changed for the team and they never looked to score anytime.
In the 39′, Sreejith V was set up by an excellent through ball from the center. The pass on the way seemed to hit a defender’s hand but the referee let to have the advantage as the ball found its way to the attacker. The defenders switched off expecting a whistle that never came giving Sreejith a split second advantage that saw him with just the keeper in front. Zeiko keeper Johny did well to block the shot but was unlucky on the rebound fell to the attacker himself who put it into the net with ease.
At 3-0 in first half, Zeiko showed no signs of comeback.
In the 57′, Vishak added one more to the scoresheet for Cosmos to make it 4-0. The team from Kottayam looked much composed and were keeping more possession giving the rivals absolutely no chance to get back. Zeiko on the other hand will have only themselves to blame for not hitting the target with the amount of chances they had.
Full Time: Kottayam Cosmos 4 – 0 V Zeiko S.C. Idukki
Goals
Kottayam Cosmos
Joby Philip 20′, 25′
Sreejith V 39′
Vishak 57′
Match Of Match: Dinil Augustine (Cosmos)
Squad
Cosmos FC
Jimmy Abraham (GK), Lijo EJ, Hajmal M, Rinto Antony, Raise Kurian, Anil Kumar PC, Midhun Ghosh CA, Sreejith V, Joby Philip, Dinil Augustine, Vishak Sukumaran.
V-Zeiko SC
Johny Selvaraj(GK), Ajeesh Damodharan, Libi P Salim, Eldhos Sunny, Jenson Jose, Hari Dhamodharan, Babumon PD, Ansal Sulaiman, Abdul Gafoor, Anu Shajee, Anu J Puramadan.
