Forca Kochi to host Thiruvananthapuram Kombans in Super League Kerala Round 4 on Oct. 16
Forca Kochi FC will host Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on 16 October 2026 in the opening match of Round 4 of the Super League Kerala. The fixture pits the third-placed Forca against fourth-placed Kombans with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 PM local time.
Both sides have started the campaign strongly and occupy the top four: Forca Kochi have two wins (including one via penalty) and five points, while Thiruvananthapuram Kombans have recorded two penalty wins and sit on four points. A positive result in Kochi would help either team consolidate their position among the early leaders and sustain momentum in the competition.
Forca Kochi arrive after a Round 3 defeat to defending champions Kannur Warriors, a match in which they failed to convert their chances and left without even a point. The home side are unbeaten in their last five fixtures at JLN Kochi, a run they will aim to extend to protect their slender points advantage over lower-ranked teams.
Team news for Forca includes the suspension of defender Nithin Madhu, who received a red card in the recent match against Kannur Warriors following a reaction from the player; beyond that, the club reports a fully available squad. The published probable starting XIs list Forca’s lineup as: Jaimy Joy (GK); Mohammed Salah, Salman Faris, Renan Araujo Rocha, Ajay Alex; Eliton Junior, Faris Ali, Nahuel Pereyra; Diljith, Rahul Raju, Harshal Rahman.
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans have no fitness issues or suspensions for the trip to Kochi and the probable XI provided is: Satyajit Bordoloi (GK); Shane Stellus, Shinu R, Stephen Acquah, Abhiram K; Adil P, Kiatalua Tadeu Emous, Patrick Mota, Arjun V; Shijin T, Paulo Cezar. The Kombans’ recent results include penalty victories over Kannur Warriors FC and Malappuram FC.
Forca’s leading attacking threat is Rahul Raju, a former Gokulam Kerala FC striker described as the RFDL 2021-22 champion and top scorer with Bengaluru FC. Rahul has been decisive for Forca in every match so far—scoring a late winner in the opening game, converting the final penalty in the second, and providing the touch for Forca’s stoppage-time goal in the loss to Kannur—accumulating two goals and leading the golden boot race.
Thiruvananthapuram’s midfield influence comes from Joseph Gordon, who previously played in India for Namdhari FC in the I-League and spent earlier seasons in the Ghana Premier League with King Faisal FC and Ashanti Gold. Gordon scored in the 90+1st minute against Malappuram FC to open the comeback from 2-0 down; that strike set up a late equaliser and helped the Kombans secure the win on penalties, a performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.
The match at JLN Stadium will kick off at 7:30 PM on 16 October 2026; tickets were promoted via the club’s announcement and a booking link was provided. Super League Kerala 2026 matches are available digitally on Zee5 with linear coverage on Unite8 Sports for viewers in India, while Etisalat offers coverage for audiences in the UAE.