GV Raja 2012: IM Vijayan stirs the crowd

IM Vijayan was the focus of the 9th SBT GV Raja Football Tournament 2012 as he made a decisive 40 minute appearance in Kerala Police’s 5-1 win over Mohun Bagan Academy.

Kerala Police 5-1 Mohun Bagan Academy
Goals: Nazarudeen C (26′, 31′, 86′), Firoz Kalathingal (54′, 71′) – Joseph Chhetri (69′, Penalty)

All the eyes were on IM Vijayan as Kerala Police routed boys from Mohun Bagan Academy in Group C of the 9th SBT GV Raja All-India Football Tournament 2012 at the University Stadium, Trivandrum. A hattrick by Nazarudeen C (26′, 31′, 86′) and a double from Firoz Kalathingal (54′, 71′) sealed the win while Academy’s lone goal was scored by Joseph Chhetri (69′) from the penalty spot.

With both teams matching man-to-man in the midfield, chances were hard to come by for both the teams early on. Kerala Police’s first major chance came in the 22nd minute when a long range effort from Nazarudeen C flew just over the goal. But the striker did not fail to find the target in the 26th minute when he was released through on goal by Gipson Justus to make it 1-0.

The first goal was followed up by another within 5 minutes as Nazarudeen doubled his personal and team’s tally. He entered the box plating a one-two with Firoz Kalathingal and beat the Bagan Academy keeper with a composed shot. The scoreline could have been 3-0 when Nazarudeen flicked on a corner for Firoz whose header was turned over for a corner by Sudeep Kmar Singh.

Nazarudeen could have completed his hattrick in the additional minutes of the first half when he missed the target from close range as he was fed by left winger Gipson Justus. The lime break came calling when the score was 2-0 in favour of Kerala Police.

Kerala Police were soon 3-0 up in the 54th minute as Firoz Kalathingal converted with a high heeled finish from a cross from the right wing. But the biggest cheer came in the 60th minute of the game as Indian footballing legend IM Vijayan came on as a substitute for Sadiqali.

The number 10 displayed glimpses of yesteryear brilliance in the game as he assisted a goal and then rattled the post with an effort himself. He was on the end of a header from Gipson, but the goalkeeper getting to it at the first place. Mohun Bagan Academy were given a penalty in the 69th minute as Police captain Shareef brought down Bhola Zaha in the box. Joseph Chhetri stepped up to convert from the spot and made it 3-1.

Vijayan’s moment of magic came in the 71st minute as he assisted Firoz for his second with a scissor cut cross from the right to make it 4-1. Then he played a one-two with Firoz to release Firoz, but the effort was saved by the keeper. It wasn’t over yet from Vijayan as he was released on goal and his shot rattled the right post!

Nazarudeen was rewarded with a hattrick in the 86th minute as Gipson got into the box and set him up for an easy finish and made it 5-1 to complete a rout by the efficient Kerala Police XI. Now, Police will face Sesa Football Club in a crucial final group encounter as both teams are tied at six points and a single semi final spot at stake.

Integral Coach Factory 0-2 Southern Railway
Goals: Elamurugan (78′, 84′)

Two late goals from Elamurugan and a spirited display from Riju PC handed Southern Railways their first win in Group D of the 9th SBT GV Raja All-India Football Tournament 2012 at the University Stadium, Trivandrum at the expense of Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. After a largely eventless first half, two late goals in the 78th and 84th minute undid the Chennai side.

Southern Railways had their first effort within three minutes from the start. Sirajudeen C’s corner kick was brought down by Rajesh on his chest and directed it at the goal. But the goalkeeper VP Sathish Kumar had a comfortable save on goal. Railways again threatened in the 7th minute when two Malayalis combined – Riju PC dribbled down the left and crossed in from the corner only for former Viva Kerala midfielder Sirajuddeen to shoot off target at far post.

ICF’s only chance of the first period came from a header by Fredy off a corner in the 15th minute that was blocked on goal by the Railway custodian Anil. The match slowed down as the match progressed and the ball remained to the midfield for a lion share of first half minutes. In the 45th minute, a cleverly taken short free kick by Railway’s Rajesh gifted Sandosh with a chance inside the goal, but the player wasted the opportunity to keep the match at a deadlock.

Southern Railway continued their domination to the second half, Rajesh tested ICF keeper from 35 yards out in the 56th minute. In the 67th minute, ICF keeper had more problems to handle as Swaraj crossed in for Riju who had an header on target. ICF almost scored against the run of play as F Jagan blasted a long ranger from outside the box in the 74th minute.

The monotony was broken in the 78th minute by Elamurugan who headed in from a cross by Swaraj down the right. ICF defence seemed to have lost the plot of the proceedings as Riju’s shot was blocked by the keeper a couple of minutes later and a rebound from Guru failed to find the open goal. Elamurugan found his second goal in the 84th minute. It was Riju who was behind the attack, as he had done numerous times this evening, whose shot hit the post and Elamrugan just had to turn the ball in.

ICF and Southern Railways have three points each in Group D where Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) tops the list with six points.

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Friday 28 September 2012. The database copy of this article was lost; it was recovered in 2026 from the Internet Archive's saved copy of the live page.