Malappuram crushed defending champion Kollam 4-1 to enter the final of the State senior inter-district football tournament at the SMRC Panchayat stadium on Saturday.
Nazaruddin strikes
Tournament's highest scorer Nazaruddin struck twice (74th & 85th) while Nishad (43rd) and Firoz (81st) scored the other goals for the winner. For Kollam Al-Safir scored the consolation goal with a long ranger in the 87th minute.
Kollam was outplayed by a better side which was cohesive on the field.
Malappuram enjoyed the upperhand from the start but couldn't convert its territorial advantage into goals.
Kollam's key striker Kannan was rusty and the defending champion's attack lacked teeth while Malappuram looked dangerous in counterattacks. Nishad put Malappuram ahead in the 43rd minute connecting a centre from left.
Kollam replaced the off-colour Kannan in the second half but the move failed to bring in any desired change as it was Malappuram which called the shots.
Good show
Kollam goalkeeper Amal gave a good account of himself under the bar by bringing out a string of saves that kept his side in the game. But Amal lacked support from his defenders and Malappuram went ahead in the 74th minute as Nazaruddin slotted in from close. Firoz nodded in the third goal in the 81st minute after a centre from Abdul Salam found him unmarked inside the box.
Nazaruddin completed the tally in the 85th minute following a fast break. Al-safir's long-ranger was a small consolation for Kollam which was simply outplayed.
