ISL 2018-19: Kerala Blasters 1-3 FC Goa - 5 Talking Points

FC Goa defeated Kerala Blasters 3-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi to further strengthen their position at the top. The Gaurs sit comfortably there with 16 points from 7 games, having a three-point lead over second place Bengaluru FC, albeit playing two matches more.

Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, sit on the 7th position with as many points from as many games. One ought to note that the Yellow Brigade found themselves at the identical position last season which eventually led to their previous manager Rene Meulensteen's sacking.

Sergio Lobera made two changes to the side that triumphed 3-2 over Delhi Dynamos. Mandar Rao Desai made his way for Carlos Pena at the left-back position whereas Brandon Fernandes came in place of Hugo Boumous at the right attacking midfield position.

David James made as many as five changes to the side that lost 1-2 to Bengaluru FC. Cyril Kali, Nemanja Lakic-Pesic, CK Vineeth, Sahal Samad, and Seimenlen Doungel were shown the doors for Mohammad Rakip, Anas Edathodika, Prasanth Karuthadathkuni, Kizito Keziron, and Matej Poplatnik respectively.

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#5 No team other than Jamshedpur has found an answer to Goa's free-flowing football

FC Goa's tryst of finding the back of the net in every game continues [Image: ISL]

Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City, FC Pune City, and Delhi Dynamos - all had fallen prey to Goa's free-flowing brand of football. This Sunday, it was Kerala Blasters' turn.

In the first half, Kerala Blasters were clueless and allowed the visitors the complete leverage in their defensive half. One-twos, triangles, and neat spells of passing ensured they had a staggering 64%-36% possession and completed twice as many passes as the home side heading into the tunnel.

Kerala Blasters did reduce the fluidity of the style in the second half by pressing high and preventing them from building from the back. However, they couldn't penetrate through them.

#4 Poplatnik-Stojanovic duo performed miserably

Slavisa Stojanovic is replaced by Seiminlen Doungel [Image: ISL]

One major weakness of the FC Goa team is their scrappy defence. Coming into the game, only the bottom three sides had conceded more goals than the table toppers. Poplatnik and Stojanovic knew this weakness of their adversary, but the Serbian-Slovenian duo's chemistry failed to click on the given day.

Moreover, they didn't even press high and allowed FC Goa to build from the back. In modern football, the strikers make up the first line of defence. Poplatnik and Stojanovic not only performed miserably in the attacking aspect but also in doing their defensive duties. Their lack of creativity ensured the home side fumbled in the little opportunities they had got in the first half.

Seimenlen Doungel rightfully replaced the ineffective Stojanovic just before first half and provided the missing attacking impetus to the Blasters.

#3 Seriton Fernandes - an alternative right-back for India?

Can Seriton Fernandes (left) solve India's right-back conundrum? [image: ISL]

If you are playing in a side which boasts of big names like Ahmed Jahouh, Edu Bedia, and Coro who can create half-chances out of thin air, it is not your fault if your talents go unnoticed. Other than the perennial Lenny Rodrigues, Seriton Fernandes was the unsung hero of this match.

At the 17th minute, Narzary latched on to a scuffed clearance from Lenny Rodrigues and was on his way to the goal from the right flank. Seriton came all the way from the right-back position to throw in a last-ditch tackle and prevent a one-on-one situation with the keeper.

India has a strange conundrum of its own. Apart from Pritam Kotal, the Indian team has no alternative for the right-back position. With his spirited performance like that of today, can Seriton Fernandes make it to the national team?

#2 Kerala Blasters' half-time substitutes tilted the possession battle at second half

Doungel's introduction helped Kerala control the pace of the game in the second half [Image: ISL]

As mentioned previously, Seimenlen Doungel's introduction to the game provided an attacking impetus to the game which was previously missing. The 24-year-old combined well with Kizito Keziron in the midfield and created a lot of chances for the home side.

CK Vineeth was brought in place of Prasanth Karuthadathkuni at the 70-minute mark so as to reduce the deficit. Doungel cut back a ball brilliantly for the Keralaite after going past Seriton. But, Vineeth's shot from the hand-shaking distance was saved by Mohamad Nawaz.

Doungel assisted twice after coming off the bench in their game against Jamshedpur. David James had hoped for something similar. He performed brilliantly, but the strikers failed to live up to the mark and couldn't lessen Kerala's misery.

Cyril Kali's presence in the right-back position in place of Mohammad Rakip pressurized Brandon Fernandes and Carlos Pena and devoided FC Goa of space in the left wing.

#1 Coro's magic reigns supreme

Coro is showing no mercy towards the oppositions [Image: ISL]

You give him an inch and he will make it a mile. Ferran Corominas is that sort of striker whom defenders simply cannot take their eyes out from.

At the 11th minute, he sneaked out of the Kerala Blasters' defenders and headed in a whipped cross from Ahmed Jahouh. The angle was tight and his face wasn't facing goalwards. But then, he is no ordinary striker and the ball curled towards the back of the net.

The second goal was a result of his brilliant piece of footwork. Brandon Fernandes, Jackichand Singh, and Edu Bedia distracted the other defenders and he was left to deal with an onrushing Krcmarevic. The former LaLiga right winger deceived him and rocketed the ball past the hapless keeper from the edge of the box at the dying embers of the first half to double the lead.

On November 22, when Bengaluru FC will cross swords with FC Goa at the latter's battlefield, all eyes will be on Coro as the Gaurs look forward to maintaining their position at the top of the table.