There were the pulsating beats of drums. There were Mexican waves, too.

The fans who nearly filled the Jawahar Municipal Stadium on a humid Sunday night did all they could to cheer their team, Kannur Warriors, on, but that wasn’t enough. That Calicut FC played with 10 men for much of the match didn’t help the home team, either.

Calicut FC won 1-0. The goal scored by Federico Boasso Fleury ensured Calicut would stay atop the Super League Kerala.

Calicut, the champion in the league’s inaugural edition, has 11 points, three ahead of the second-placed Forca Kochi, which, however, has played a game less. Defending champion Kannur Warriors is in third place with seven points.

The Warriors must be disappointed with the way they played on this night. They created chances alright, but they just were not sharp enough up front.

The match had got off to a bright start, with the teams playing some exciting end-to-end football. And when the first goal came, it looked as if more would come, with both sides keen to attack. But, that was not to be. The Argentine’s goal would be the only one.

It was a fine goal too, as he broke through the Warriors defence, which wasn’t solid enough, and struck smartly from the edge of the box.

The Warriors tried hard for an equaliser and forced successive corner kicks. They even enjoyed more possession, too.

Calicut, which lost Agustín Villalobos through the red card, managed to defend its slender lead.

The result: Kannur Warriors 0 lost to Calicut FC 1 (Federico Boasso Fleury 15).