Paulo Victor’s header seals Thiruvananthapuram Kombans’ first Super League win, sinks Forca Kochi

Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram Kombans registered their first victory of the Super League Kerala season with a narrow 1–0 win over Forca Kochi in the second-round opener at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium on Thursday.

The decisive moment came in the 74th minute when Brazilian substitute Paulo Victor rose above the defence to nod home a precise cross from Mohammed Azhar, breaking the deadlock and securing all three points for the home side.

The match began at a brisk pace, with Kombans threatening early. In the fifth minute, U-23 forward Akshay darted down the left flank and fired a sharp attempt on goal, only to be denied by Forca Kochi goalkeeper Rafique Ali Sardar. However, Akshay’s promising evening was cut short after he picked up an injury in the 16th minute and was replaced by Mohammed Shafi.

Kombans captain Patrick Mota came close to giving his side the lead in the 19th minute with a well-taken free kick that floated into the box, but none of the three waiting attackers managed to make contact. Forca Kochi, meanwhile, struggled to mount meaningful counterattacks, their forward line unable to breach Kombans’ disciplined defence.

Tensions flared towards the end of the first half, with yellow cards shown to Rafique Ali Sardar, Patrick Mota and Shanid Valan. Early in the second half, Forca Kochi’s Gifty Gracious was booked for a foul on Mota, as the match became increasingly physical.

Forca Kochi’s best chance came in the 54th minute when Brazilian forward Douglas Rosa attempted a fierce strike through a cluster of defenders, missing the post by inches. Coach Bijoy Varghese introduced Luis Rodríguez and Rinreithan Shaiza shortly after, hoping to inject fresh energy into the attack.

Kombans, too, reshuffled their side, bringing on Paulo Victor, Kalid Roshan and Carvalho Lima – a move that ultimately turned the game. Azhar’s pace and Victor’s aerial prowess combined to produce the match-winning goal, as Forca Kochi’s defence was caught flat-footed.

Despite late pressure from Kochi, Kombans held firm to claim a deserved victory. The result marked a crucial turnaround for Thiruvananthapuram Kombans, who now open their Super League account, while Forca Kochi face mounting pressure after suffering their second straight defeat.