Super League Kerala 2026: Forca Kochi snatch late 1-0 victory against Malappuram FC

Rahul Raju’s late goal secures the victory for Forca Kochi

Forca Kochi snatched a thrilling last-minute winner against Malappuram FC on the 27th of September 2026 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, in the final game of the first matchweek fixtures of the Super League Kerala 2026.

A late gamble from Rahul Raju and a howler miss from the substitute keeper of Malappuram FC, Devansh Dabas, ensured that Forca Kochi walked off the pitch at full-time with all three points.

With this win, Forca Kochi FC have taken the second spot in the Super League Kerala 2026 group table, and Malappuram FC have taken the fourth position in the league table. Here is a detailed report on the Super League Kerala 2026 match between Forca Kochi FC and Malappuram FC.

An uneventful first half

Forca Kochi took the first touch, and the game began on an attacking note as both teams tried to establish superiority. However, despite both teams trying to trouble the opponent’s backline, most of their efforts never really tested the defence.

Forca Kochi kept winning chances in the midfield and the final third, but had to succumb to the high press of Malappuram FC. Malappuram FC’s defensive unit, spearheaded by Abdul Samad, displayed pace, was physically dominant and kept Forca Kochi numbed.

Both teams continued to struggle to adjust to the pace of the pitch and were cheaply gifting possession to their opponents consistently. In the 42nd minute, Sajeesh made a cheeky move from the right and made a cutback, which was cleared by the Forca Kochi defender. Elforsy, who won the second ball, took a moment and fired a shot, which, although it skied, was the first time Malappuram put the Forca Kochi defence on alert.

After the first forty-five minutes, there was nothing to separate the two sides, and the score remained in a nil-nil deadlock.

Rahul Raju seals the deal for Forca Kochi FC

In the second half, Alan Saji took a brilliant header off a searching cross from the right, which missed the goal by inches and hit the side netting, keeping the hosts waiting to find their opener. Malappuram, on the other hand, made inch-perfect set pieces, primarily from Elforsy, but struggled to connect the ball in the final third and find the back of the net.

In the 82nd minute, Forca Kochi got a golden opportunity to score the opener and shift the momentum to their side. Rahul Raju, the substitute, made a brilliant move with the ball and provided a sleek backheel inside the box to Diego Hernandez Jiminez, who came in a 1v1 situation with the keeper and skied the ball over the crossbar, adding up to the dismay of the hosts.

In the 90th minute, Rahul Raju took a shot at goal from distance, but fortunately for Malappuram, Arbaz was in position and held the ball strongly. Taking penalties into account, Malappuram FC changed Arbaz from goal and brought in Devansh Dabas, a plan that ultimately backfired for the visitors.

In the 90+3rd minute, Rahul Raju once again gambled a shot from distance, which, even though it was an easy catch for Devansh, was blundered and fumbled, and the ball rolled and made it to the back of the net, providing the hosts with the advantage.

In the final minute of the game, Malappuram FC, desperate for an equaliser, took a brilliant shot at goal, courtesy of Elforsy, but to the rescue of Forca Kochi, Jaimy Joy stepped out from his position and made a stellar save to prevent Malappuram from scoring, and at full-time, Forca Kochi FC snatched the 1-0 win against Malappuram FC in the final game of match week 1 of the Super League Kerala 2026.

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