ISL Report: Kerala Blasters outclass FC Goa to secure the second successive win

Ravish Narvekar

The win helped the Manjappada to jump to 5th place in the league table.

Kerala Blasters FC outclassed FC Goa by an easy 3-1 margin in the Indian Super League match played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. The Tuskers took the lead in the 42nn minute through Adrian Luna, while Dimitrios Diamantakos doubled the lead from the spot in the 45th minute. Ivan Kalyuzhnyi scored the stunner in the 52nd minute to put his side in the driver's seat. Noah Sadoui scored the consolation goal from the Gaurs in the 67th minute.

Kerala coach Ivan Vukomanovic made only one change to his side which defeated Northeast United FC by a 3-0 margin as Saurav Mandal made way for Sahal Samad. On the other hand, FC Goa boss Carlos Pena brought in Saviour Gama and Spanish forward Alvaro Vazquez to replace injured Fares Arnaout and Redeem Tlang in the starting XI respectively.

The Gaurs who already have four early goals to their name this season, had an opportunity to take the lead in the early minutes as they were awarded a free kick in the dangerous position but Iker Guarrotxena saw his touch missed the target by distance. A minute later, the Spaniard once again came close to giving the lead for FC Goa but this time his fierce strike from outside the box missed the frame narrowly.

At the other end, Sahal should have taken the host into the lead in the 7th minute when he was in a commanding position in the rivals’ box but FCG keeper Dheeraj Singh came up with a brilliant block to keep his side safe. The Gaurs replied to them with a swift attack from the right flank as Noah Sadoui found Vazquez in front of the goal but the opponent keeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill stretched to his right to push the goalbound strike for a corner.

The Visitors suffered a blow in the 21st minute as their left-back Gama suffered an injury and was replaced by another local lad Sanson Pereira. After an end-to-end affair from the kick-off, the match witnessed a possession football as FC Goa tried to build the attacks from the back but they could not trespass KBFC’s strong defensive line led by Croatian centre-back Marko Leskovic and Hormipam Ruivah.

The best chance for the Goans came in the 39th minute as Alvaro found himself with the ball at his feet just outside the box. The Spaniard selflessly set up Noah in the box but Kerala defender Leskovic came with diving efforts to block Moroccan’s goalbound strike from the close.

As the match progressed towards the break, Kerala raided the Goans with a series of attacks and finally found success in the 42nd minute. The Goan defence failed to clear Rahul KP’s cross in the box. Taking advantage of the same Sahal easily took control of the ball before dribbling past Goa’s Anwar Ali in the box, and finding Adrian Luna in the goalmouth. The Uruguayan forward later made no mistake from close to send the ball in the back of the net from the point-blank range making it 1-0. Kerala should have doubled their lead within two minutes from the opening goal but Dimitrios Diamantakos saw his tap rebound off the side-post.

However, it was a difference of just a minute as the Blasters managed to double their lead in the 45th minute. Goa’s defender Ali once again made an error, this time he brought down Dimitrios in the box to give away the penalty kick. The Greek forward himself stepped forward and sent the rival keeper Dheeraj the wrong way from the spot to put his side in a two-goal cushion just before halftime.

Kerala started the second session on an attacking note and took just seven minutes to inflate their lead as Dimitrios sent a short pass to Ivan Kalyuzhnyi in the midfield. The Ukrainian went for the glory from the distance whose sparkling strike gave no chance to Goa's keeper Dheeraj making it 3-0.

Down by three goals, the Gaurs showed some urgency to get back in the match but most of their attacks ended in the final third. In one of these, Guarrotxena found himself with just rival keeper Gill at the take but the Kerals custodian brilliantly denied the Spaniard with a diving block.

FC Goa finally managed to reduce the margin in the 67th minute as long distance cross from Seriton Fernandes was brilliantly headed in by Noah from inside the box to make it 3-1. The Gaurs had a chance to reduce the margin and get back into the match in the 70th minute when Redeem Tlang found Noah in the box with just a keeper to beat but the Moroccan forward could not control the ball at his feet. They had another opportunity in the 75th minute as Edu Bedia sent a perfect free kick to find Alvaro in the box but the Kerala keeper came up with a timely block to keep his side safe.

At the other end, Goa's keeper Dheeraj made a diving effort to clear Rahul's cross. The ball rolled to

Luna in the box but the forward shot over the frame with the rival keeper completely out of position. the Goans also tried to find the net in the dying minutes of the match but could not make most of their chances.