Kombans register their first-ever victory against Forca Kochi in Super League Kerala

Kombans collected their first three points of the second Super League Kerala season.

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans emerged victorious against a strong Forca Kochi side on the first matchday of the second round fixtures in Super League Kerala. Kombans collected their first three points of the second season at their home in the Chandrashekaran Nair Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.

Both teams, after losing their first match, came onto the pitch determined to sail across the finishing line. The first half saw the Kombans dictating the proceedings with their back-to-back offensive initiatives from the wings and a vulnerable Forca Kochi defence, which was able to somehow keep the Kombans away from breaking the deadlock in the first half.

In the second half, although both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the initial minutes, Kombans finally found the opener with the assistance of Paulo Victor, who easily headed in a cross delivered by Mohammed Asher from the left, providing the hosts with a much-needed advantage that saw the home side walk away with three points in Super League Kerala.

This is what it’s all about ❤️‍🔥🐘#SuperLeagueKerala #SLK #SuperCrazy pic.twitter.com/qxaj87hBxr

— Super League Kerala (@slk_kerala) October 11, 2025

A Quiet and Sloppy First-Half

In the first half, the Kombans were constantly attacking from the flanks and demonstrated a much better and determined performance than they did in their season opener. With some beautiful accelerated runs coupled with exquisite ball control, Akshay and Ronald provided some good crosses into the penalty box to pile the pressure.

Patrick Mota led the pressing for Thiruvananthapuram Kombans and dictated the terms for the match. The captain crafted some good combination plays and excelled in both on-ball and off-ball movements. The player managed to win a good number of set-pieces in some dangerous positions, but was unable to convert them in the final third. Though the Kochi backline looked sloppy, Kombans’ failure to attempt shots on target relieved the visitors.

In the latter phase of the first half, Kochi came back to the game, courtesy of the young talent Sangeeth Sateesh, who, with his flicks and pacey movements, ignited some quick attacks for his side. However, despite his contributions, Kochi was unable to penetrate the sturdy Kombans’ defense.

Also Read: Calicut FC vs Thrissur Magic FC Preview, team news, lineups & prediction | Super League Kerala 2025

Paulo Victor breaks the deadlock for the Kombans

In the second half, both teams displayed an even sloppy performance and were struggling to keep composure and gain control. The game was dominated in the midfield by both teams, gifting possession to their counterparts on multiple instances. This stagnation in the game paved the way for both sides to make a few substitutions, which changed the fortune and rewrote the script of the match.

Around half an hour into the second half, Patrick Mota, one of the only bright sparks of the match till that moment, provided a beautiful pass to Ashar in the left flank, who made a clever dribble into the 18-yard box, beating two defenders before crossing it to unmarked substitute Paulo Victor lurking in the 6-yard area who just had to head in the ball to open the accounts for the Kombans in some of his very first involvement in the game.

Later, Forca Kochi made some back-to-back attacks to find the equaliser, but Aryan, the Kombans’ keeper, rose to the occasion and blocked all the attempts. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pitch, Ashar was also desperate to put his team in the lead and came really close to doubling the advantage for his side. But to his dismay, the ball missed the goal by inches.

In the final moments of the game, when Kochi created confusion in the opponent’s box, the Kombans remained composed and defensively resilient to clear away all the opponent attacks, sealing their first win of the second Super League Kerala season.

Round 3 Fixtures for Thiruvananthapuram Kombans and Forca Kochi FC

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans will next face Malappuram FC on 20th October against Malappuram FC at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri. Forca Kochi will lock horns with Thrissur Magic FC at the Corporation Stadium, Thrissur, on October 18.

Fans can tune into Super League Kerala from 7:30 pm IST on Sony Sports Network and the Sports.com website.

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