Kannur Warriors edge Thrissur Magic 1-0 in SLK Season 3 opener
Kannur Warriors beat Thrissur Magic 1-0 at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium in Kannur on 25 September 2026 in the opening match of the third edition of the Super League Kerala, with Asier Gomes scoring the only goal in the 17th minute.
The result mirrored the 2025 final between the same teams, when Kannur also prevailed 1-0 via an Asier Gomes strike in the 18th minute, and left Kannur as the only team Thrissur Magic have yet to beat in Super League Kerala history. Both clubs began the season under new head coaches, Andrey Chernyshov for Kannur Warriors and David Caneda for Thrissur Magic.
Kannur dominated play early and the decisive goal stemmed from a defensive error by Thrissur: Henry Plazas’ attempted lobbed pass was intercepted and deflected to Kannur’s forward Bogdan Stamenkovic, who took a couple of touches down the wing and delivered a left-footed cross that Asier converted with his first touch. The match report noted Kannur’s control of the contest up to the 23rd minute, during which the goal was scored.
After taking the lead, Kannur shifted to a more cautious approach and invited pressure; Thrissur produced a handful of chances in response but failed to convert. Thrissur’s difficulties in the first half included an inability to dictate the tempo, and a hydration break interrupted the momentum they briefly gained after the goal.
David Caneda made no half-time substitutions but altered Thrissur’s game plan, and the visitors began the second half with greater intensity and a cadence that suited them, creating several opportunities. The report attributed Thrissur’s inability to score in part to a lack of experience among their forwards.
Kannur increasingly prioritised defensive stability in the second half, with Varo Alvarez singled out for numerous challenges against Thrissur’s pacey wingers. The combination of Alvarez’s defending and his teammates’ collective work preserved Kannur’s lead and secured the victory.
In the 44th minute fans at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium held up their phone lights to pay tribute to Calicut FC’s Rijohn Jose, who died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on 20 September 2026.
Kannur Warriors’ next fixture is scheduled for 31 October at the Jawar Municipal Stadium in Kannur against Trivandrum Kombans, with kickoff at 7:30 and live coverage on Zee5 plus linear broadcast on Unite 8 Sports; Thrissur Magic will next play Forca Kochi FC on 30 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, also at 7:30 with the same broadcast arrangements. The next match in the Super League Kerala is Calicut FC versus Trivandrum Komabans on 26 September at the EMS Coporation Stadium in Kozhikode, with live streaming on Zee5 and linear coverage on Unite 8 Sports.