Kerala have booked their place in the pre-quarter finals of the 65th National Football Championship for Sanotsh Trophy as they defeated Jharkhand 3-0 in a do-or-die clash in cluster IV. Firoz K who after coming on as a substitute, scored a hat trick for the state team was the pick of Kerala players.
Kerala were the better team in all departments against a Jharkhand side, which was powered with Tata Football Academy (TFA) players. Kerala created their first opportunity of the match early in the 10th minute, as a shot from Mohammed Razi rattled the crossbar.
In the 20th minute, Kerala coach and former Indian international, Rajeev Kumar, took striker Rakesh K off the pitch and replaced him with another striker Firoz K who will prove to be Kerala's match winner later.
The man from Manjeri in Malappuram found his first goal of the game in the 41st minute as he received a long clearance from Surjith VV and dribbled past two Jharkhand defenders to find the back of the net. Kerala were ahead by a goal when the referee called for half time.
Jharkhand brought back in to the game some sting after the break. But Kerala defenders did their job in preventing the equaliser. Kerala goal keeper Joby Joseph also did well by making two important saves in the first 15 minutes of the second period.
Kerala doubled their lead in the 66th minute. This time also, it was a defender, N Johnson, who provided the assist for Firoz as he headed Johnson's cross in to the goal. Despite going 2-0 up, Kerala did not give up their attacking play and they were rewarded with a third five minutes before the end of play, completing Firoz's hat trick.
The hat trick was scored of a spectacular as a cross from midfielder Vinod Kumar S, was met with a scissor kick from Firoz. The goal keeper stood no chance saving the shot and Kerala were cruising in to the pre-quarter finals of the national championship.
Firoz K hails from Manjeri in Malappuram district of Kerala.He was first noticed as he played key role in the Kerala team that finished runners up in the national under-21 championship. After completing his education at NSS College, Manjeri, he joined Viva Kerala. He also represented Kerala clubs like Malabar United and State Bank of Travancore (SBT) before signing for Kerala Police this year. He represented Maharashtra in the 2009 edition of Santosh Trophy.
Kerala will now play Manipur in the knock out stage on May 13, 2011. It was in this stage that Kerala were knocked out last two times and coach Rajeev Kumar will be hoping that his team would be third time lucky on Friday.
Final Score: Jharkhand 0-3 Kerala
Goals: Firoz K (41', 66', 85') Venue: Sports Complex Ground, Tinsukia
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 11 May 2011, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.
Comments · 25
Wooooo hoo.....
any updates further sir?
Please keep the position updated.. Thanks a lot
super keralam..............
Thanks a lot for keeping us updated... Bravo Bravo Kerala!!
Its difficult to overcome manippur in the pre-quarter,
anyway all the best TEAM KERALA...............
why the players like Asif Saheer, Abdul Noushad, Hakkim, Usman are not included in the Kerala team, they are not playing I-league, if they were in the team Kerala would be the strongest team in the tournament, I think the politics will vanish football from Kerala.
Wow.. I'm delirious after seeing this. Well done Kerala. Keep going, Don't make us sad this time. Come back with Trophy. I'm so happy for the people behind this website. Also cheers to Cochin Port Trust for sponsoring the Kerala Team. Wishing all the very best to Kerala Team for coming matches.
come on firoz, make it eazy
we prays to enter the kerala team to final round.many thanks to team
Firoz very good keep it up
hi Firu keep the dream
hii firu ,manjeriyude muthe.....ninakkum nammude team keralakkum manglam nerunnu......9895619183
Gud one Firoz... keep going.. best wishes for the team.. try to get the trophy to our home... God's Own Country...
Well done .....Kerala.... & Good luck for pre-quarter...
sure joseph, politics play in behind team selection.i thnk asif iz form out.
Bravo!!!!!!!
Firoz nd Rajeeve kumar, the coach nd former intl
keep up the good work
Keep up the good spirit. Hope dwindling fortunes of Kerala football will be reversed from this season onwards! Many best wishes for the success of Kerala football tea !!!
football enu paranjal keralam, get the cup back to kerala, plsssssss, indian footballil keralathinte payaya gambheeram thirichu kondu varanam, come on pulikuttikale, manipurine thakarkanam.....
by the way, n.p.pradeep, noushad ikka, hakkim, asif ikka onum ile temil, anybody knows. . .
Well done team Kerala. But Manipur will be a difficult opponent. Anyhow wishing good luck. Wondering how come none of the seniors are in the team?
Keralathil cricket(madiyenmarude kali) marikkuvan pavappettavanteum kashttapedunnavanteum kaliyaya the one and only football ne keralathil thirichu varu.i love football rajeesh frm assam
I fully agree with Jaymon Joseph.Why are talented players like Asif Saheer, Noushad Usman & lots of others being excluded from Kerala Team. If politics is going to rule Kerala football then i am sure football in kerala may come to a standstill. So selectors try to include talented players & not players of your choice.
Well done Kerala for having entered the pre quarters. Best of Luck for future games.
In the last couple of years there were a lot of senior players in the team, and unfortunately, they were criticized for their attitude. That's why the parent body opted for youngsters in the team. Just wait and see, this team will certainly reach at least semifinals or finals, if not win the cup.
Then Usman is there in this team!!
ente kalikkuttukaranaya firoz nee iniyum munnott pokum oppam kerala teamum by sameer[sissor] pulloor
firozine vartthedukkuka keralatthil iniyum ithu pole nalla kalikkarund avarkk pls avasaram kodukkuka keralam munnoot munnoott