Dorielton Nascimento's goal seals Kochi’s win

Kochi: Dorielton Nascimento proved to be Forca Kochi FC’s star yet again as he netted the winner with a late strike to help his team edge Thrissur Magic FC in their final Super League Kerala match at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi, on Tuesday.
The match outcome had no impact on the standings as Kochi secured their semifinal spot earlier. Kochi remained in third position with 16 points from 10 matches, while Thrissur stayed at the bottom with five points. Calicut FC and Kannur Warriors also advanced to the semifinals, with their upcoming Thursday clash determining the league leader.
The last semifinal spot will be decided when Malappuram FC face Thiruvananthapuram Kombans on Friday. Thiruvananthapuram need a draw, while Malappuram need a win in their final fixture to advance to the semifinals.
The match remained scoreless until Nascimento found the net in the 81st minute. The sequence began with 39-year-old midfielder Asif Kottayil’s swift run down the left wing. He delivered a pass to Rahul KP in the box. Rahul missed the ball and it went to Thrissur defender Hendry Antonay. But his back pass was mistimed and fell to Nascimento. He seized the opportunity with both hands and, with a sliding shot, beat Goalkeeper Pratheesh. It was also Nascimento’s fifth goal from eight matches.
SLK final in Kozhikode
The tournament organisers have moved the SLK final from Kochi to EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode, scheduled for November 10. According to sources associated with the league, poor attendance at Kochi contributed to this venue change.