Javed O K netted the winner for Chandni in the 79th minute of the match to earn the Kozhikode team the crucial three points.
Both Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club and Chandni now have five points each from three matches but the Aircraftmen top the table on goal difference.
Threads could also have gone ahead in standings had they beaten Chandni but with Saturday’s loss, the Kochi outfit remained static on four points along with BEML and Malabar United.
The match was evenly poised till the 74th minute when Threads’ Shameer, who had already been booked for a rough challenge on Niyas Rehman in the 43rd minute, showed dissent towards referee Vijaya Kumar’s decision after the official pulled him up for a foul throw in the 74th minute. Kumar gave the marching orders to Shameer, reducing the Kochi team to 10 players.
Chandni, capitalising on the advantage, came up with a flurry of attacking moves to threaten the rival goal mouth. Javed’s right-footer from inside the penalty area went just wide before Zubair K P headed out a right wing cross from Niyas Rehman.
But Chandni didn’t have to wait for too long to open the account. In the 79th minute, a goalkeeping error from Threads’ custodian Jinesh Thomas opened up the opportunity. Thomas, who came out of the penalty area, failed to clear a through pass meant for Chandni’s Javed.
The ball went to an unmarked Thang Somi Ruviah, who essayed a first time cross from the right wing which Javed neatly placed to the left of Thomas.
Earlier, in the first half, Threads’ had a few chances to score but shots from Nanju Vennara and Binu Vijayan sailed over the cross piece. Abhijith K was the one who came close to scoring when a couple of his powerful long-rangers were saved by Chandni goalkeeper Sameer Hussain.
After a day’s rest, Chandni FC will take on SBT in Monday’s first tie before HASC face Malabar United the same day.
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