Super League Kerala: Basanta gives Forca Kochi hard-fought draw against Kannur Warriors

Forca Kochi earned their first point in Super League Kerala after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Kannur Warriors at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode on Friday.

Basanta Singh popped up at the far post to score from a diving header in the 76th minute for Kochi. The Warriors had led the match for the most part through an 11th-minute goal from Spanish striker David Grande. Grande had also scored in a 2-1 win for the Warriors in their season opener against Thrissur Magic last week.

The Kochi side, managed by Mario Lemos, lost their opener 0-2 to Malappuram FC. Even as Kochi controlled the game for longer periods and had nearly 55 per cent possession, Basanta's goal was their only shot on target.

While questions might be asked about how Warriors' goalkeeper Ajmal handled the Basanta shot, as the ball went in after bouncing in front of him, his opposite number Subhasish Roy Chowdhury would certainly admit his error in the Warriors opener.

Chowdhury, a veteran custodian, hit the back of Grande while trying to make a clearance. The striker had put pressure on the goalkeeper but was lucky to see the ball bounce off him and roll past a hapless Chowdhury.