A highy entertaining opening match played between BASCO Malappuram and SASC Wayanad kicked off Kerala State Club Championship at Thrissur Corporation Stadium today.
The Malappuram side donning Blue jersey and playing 4-3-3 created numerous chances from the opening minutes. But SASC Wayanad was lucky enough to survive the onslaught. SASC relied mostly on coutner attack. Some good combination play at the right wing of SASC kept crowd on the edge of their seats.
BASCO was unlucky throughout the match. They can also be blamed for missing some good chances with some feeble shots. They also had a shot by Nishad in the SASC D to the bottom left corner was saved by the rival goalkeeper by the foot in the first half.
In the 39th minute a lack of communication between the defence and keeper saw SASC take the lead. A SASC counter attack through a high ball crossed from the left wing into the box was headed by one of the BASCO defender to the goalkeeper. The keeper was advancing to collect the ball and was off his line and the ball found way into the open post.
A goal conceded against the run of play, kept the scoreline 1 - 0 till half time.
The second half was not any different. Both equally competitive and attacking end to end but the final finish was lacking. BASCO had numerous opportunites to equalise but often missed the target.
Into the 60th minute, a striker from the left side of the box across the post to the far corner came off the crossbar and few minutes later SASC goalkeeper Saleem Pulled off a good save to keep them ahead in the game.
BASCO was creating a lot of chances by some good balls played from the right flank. But most of them were wasted. They looked dangerous and was finally rewarded for keeping the pressure on.
In 75th minute a shot by Nizamuddin from the right flank, which was more of a cross than a pass found way into the far post. The goalkeeper could just stand and hope that it went out.
BASCO got the goal they deserved. With 15 minutes left in the game both team were desparate for a winning goal. Each team making two substitutions to bring on attacking players was clear indication that none were playing for a tie breaker. But both teams were guilty of not capitalising on chances.
The tie breaker was on. BOSCO to take the first one kicks it over the post. With all the tension SASC players makes a cool finish in hte first round. When both teams scored in the second round , BOSCO player chipped the ball over the post in the 3rd Round. SASC nets the ball and next the Crucial penalty was again kicked out by the BOSCO player and SASC was all celebrations winning it 3-1 !
Nishad K of BASCO was awarded Man of the Match.
SASC Wayanad will face KSEB tomorrow at 6:30 pm while Josco FC will play AFC Pathanamthitta at 4:30
Tie breaker:
BASCO: X G X X -
SASC : G G G - -
Squad list :
BASCO Malappuram
Hazan Uzaman(GK), Shajimon AV, Gulam Saheeb, Shaji TC, Shanoob P, Nishad K, Rafeeque Hassan, NIzamuddin TK, Samad KM, Ilyas M, Rasheed MT
Coach : CPM Ummer Koya
SASC Waynad Saleem (GK), Vishnu K, Navas M, Ratheesh C, Sreejith KS, Shahul Hameed, Sanesh K, Shejeer M, Ajesh K, Sajith KS, Ashraf C
Coach : Praveen PS
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Monday 30 November 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.