Josco FC pulled off another great performance to outplay Malabar United in a nail-biting thriller. Nigerian striker Onebi produced a great solo goal in the dying minutes to take them through to the Group stages of Malayala Manorama Gold Cup All-India Football Tournament at Seethi Haji Football Ground, Edavanna Malappuram.
Playing for a place in the Group stages, Malabar United came across a defiant Josco FC team who had yesterday packed off Trivandrum giants Travancore Titanium.
Both teams were evenly poised and after playing the first half an hour cautiously, Josco broke the deadlock. Strikers Stephen Lijo and Onebi combined well to create a chance and this time it was Stephen unlike the last match who found the net in the 43rd minute.
Malabar United came back through a set piece in second half. In the 75th minute, Captain Jithesh CK headed in from a corner levelling things gearing the game towards a thrilling finish.
With all to play for it was left to the new Nigerian signing from Josco who made a solo run into the opponent's half taking on a couple of defender and finishing off the game with just three minutes of regulation time remaining.
The win will take Josco into the group stages where they will play Indian Navy, Akbar Travels and local favorites SBT in Group A.
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Sunday 3 January 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.