Malappuram FC thrash defending champions Kannur Warriors 3-0 at home in Super League Kerala 2026 clash

Soukana and Rashid scored their third goal of the season.

Malappuram FC continued their impressive run at home with a commanding 3-0 victory over defending champions Kannur Warriors FC in the final game of Round 5 fixtures of the Super League Kerala 2026 at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri on the 26th October 2026. Goals from captain Amadou Soukouna, Muhammed Mahdi and C.K. Rashid secured all three points for the hosts.

The victory marked Malappuram’s second consecutive home win, and the hosts have climbed to third place in the Super League Kerala points table with eight points from five matches, while Kannur slipped to fourth with seven points from the same number of games.

Here is a detailed report of the Super League Kerala 2026 match between Malappuram FC and Kannur Warriors FC.

Malappuram strike twice before half-time

The first half began at a lively pace, with Kannur looking to exploit the flanks through Muhammed Sinan and Nijo Gilbert. Malappuram, meanwhile, relied on the combination play of Elforsy and Amadou Soukouna to create openings through the middle.

The hosts had the first real chance of the match in the 16th minute, when Soukouna picked out Elforsy on the right, and the forward advanced into a promising position. However, his hesitation in choosing between taking a shot and finding a teammate allowed the Kannur defence to recover, and the opportunity went begging.

Malappuram broke the deadlock three minutes later. Elforsy played a well-weighted pass through the Kannur defensive line, allowing Soukouna to make a forward run and bring the ball under control. The captain finished with a precise right-footed effort towards goal. Even though Hajmal got a hand to the shot, he failed to prevent it from finding the net, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Kannur responded by pushing forward in search of an equaliser. Sinan and Asier Gomes looked to trouble the Malappuram defence, but the visitors were unable to convert their attacking moves into a goal. Malappuram goalkeeper Mohammed Arbaz also produced a few important saves to preserve his side’s advantage.

Just as Kannur appeared to be building momentum, Malappuram struck again in the stoppage time. Elforsy’s corner was initially cleared by the Kannur defence, but the ball fell to midfielder Muhammed Mahdi outside the crowded penalty area. Mahdi unleashed a low shot that travelled through a cluster of players and into the net, doubling Malappuram’s lead at the break.

Rashid seals a convincing victory

Kannur came out with renewed intent after the restart and attempted to find a way back into the contest. However, Malappuram’s defensive unit remained organised and dealt effectively with the visitors’ attacking advances.

Malappuram continued to threaten going forward and nearly extended their lead in the 59th minute. Muhammed Salim sent an effort towards goal that struck the crossbar and rebounded off goalkeeper Hajmal before returning to the field of play, denying the hosts a third goal.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 66th minute. Malappuram worked the ball forward through a combination involving P.P. Rishad and Bongani Zungu on the right. Their defence-splitting passes opened up space inside the penalty area, where C.K. Rashid was on hand to finish decisively and make it 3-0.

Rashid added another ball to the back of the net in the 90th minute, but the assistant referee’s flag ruled out the effort for offside. The decision did little to change the outcome, as Malappuram comfortably saw out the closing stages to register an emphatic win over the defending champions.

Upcoming fixtures of Super League Kerala

In the Round 6 fixtures of Super League Kerala 2026, Forca Kochi FC will play their third home game of the season against Thrissur Magic FC on the 30th of October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. Following that, the action will move back to the Jawahar Municipal Stadium, where Kannur Warriors will host the Kombans on the 31st of October.

For the final game of Round 6, Malappuram FC will face Calicut FC for the Malabar derby of the Super League Kerala at the Payyanad Stadium on the 1st of November.

Fans all across India can watch the Super League Kerala 2026 matches digitally on Zee5, alongside linear coverage on Unite8 Sports. Fans from the UAE can enjoy the Super League Kerala action with Etisalat.

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