A rain-soaked Payyanad Stadium witnessed another fiery chapter of the Malabar Clásico, as Malappuram FC and Calicut FC battled to a 1–1 draw filled with emotion, subplots, and drama.
Calicut FC struck early in the 7th minute, when Malappuram goalkeeper Ashar punched a corner straight into danger. Mohammed Ajsal, alert and ruthless, smashed the rebound into the net to silence the stands. It was a dream comeback for the Kozhikode-born striker, who had been benched in the previous two games. Ajsal, once part of the Kerala Blasters reserve team, continues to prove his attacking pedigree, having earlier netted seven goals for Kerala in the Santosh Trophy.
For Malappuram, this fixture carried added emotion. Defenders Abdul Hakku and Gani, both key members of Calicut’s backline last season, were facing their former club for the first time. Malappuram’s star forward Roy Krishna, marking his 150th appearance on Indian soil, almost pulled them level in the 26th minute. He was breaking free on goal before Richard made a vital last-ditch challenge to preserve Calicut’s lead.
But just before halftime, a curling corner found Aitor, who dashed toward the near post and flicked the ball past Hajmal to make it 1–1. The Ultras Malappuram responded with a thunderous Poznań celebration.
After a 1–1 first half, Calicut FC retook the lead in the 50th minute when captain Prasanth met a beautiful cross from Salim on the left and directed a powerful header into the far corner. This was his first goal for the club. The captain’s moment put Calicut 2–1 up and silenced the Payyanad crowd.
Malappuram responded with attacking intent. Substitutions saw John Kennedy and Rishad come on, changing the tempo. But the heavy rain turned the pitch into a battlefield. The players were slipping everywhere, and control became nearly impossible. In the 65th minute, Kennedy missed a one-on-one against Hajmal, and moments later, Gani produced a horrendous miss. He fired wide of an open post after Kennedy’s perfect square pass.
Ajsal scored once again in the 72nd minute and doubled the lead of CFC. He dribbled past three defenders in the process with silky footwork before slotting it past goalkeeper.
Despite setbacks, Malappuram kept pushing. Their persistence paid off when Nithin Madhu scored a goal, which was a moment of intelligence and precision. He, instead of going for power, placed a low clever shot that skidded across wet turf. But the drama wasn’t over. Roy Krishna was fouled inside the box, and he himself took the penalty. Hajmal made a brilliant save, but Kennedy scored from the rebound. The stadium erupted like a volcano.
The final whistle saw drenched players collapse in exhaustion, and both fanbases applaud an unforgettable derby. This was the Malabar Clásico at its chaotic best: a rain-drenched, adrenaline-fuelled spectacle.
