ISL: Kerala Blasters 1-0 FC Goa

Kerala Blasters got their campaign back on track with their second win of the tournament, with each coming on either side of a 1-0 loss to Mumbai City FC. FC Goa, on the contrary after showing great spirit in the last game, coming from a goal down to win the tie against Delhi Dynamos in the last gasp, fell to yet another defeat, keeping them at the bottom of the table and opening the gap between them and the second last as they lost 1-0 to Kerala away at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.The match saw some good football and although, the flurry of goals went missing, the entertainment flavour wasn’t let down upon. Here, we take a look at the five highlights of the game:

#1 Tremendous turnout and atmosphere for Kerala Blasters\' first home game

After almost a month of Indian Super League, the football crazy state of Kerala got first view of the extravaganza live at the stadium as Kerala Blasters were up against a rejuvenant FC Goa side at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Any doubts on the crowd support were rubbished with news of a sold out arena. And as it panned out, the official number was a little over 47,000, majority of whom were dipped in yellow in unison with the team and in full volume, which made for a tremendous atmosphere.

People have been talking about crowds in Kolkata, Goa and the North East, this was second to none and with the hard earned win for the Blasters, there is every chance of the same number or even more in the next home game, as the state gears up a back to back second home game on Sunday against a struggling Delhi Dynamos outfit.

The fans turned out painted and waving the Kerala Blasters flag high in an exhilarating atmosphere at the stadium. They were seen dancing and cheering every move and spurred their team on and the goal just added the cherry on top with fans seen celebrating in perfect tandem.

The win has now taken Kerala Blasters to 5th in the table and just a point away from top 4 and 5 points off the top.

#2 The return of marquee signings; Hume and Santos were missed

While Robert Pires was back in the starting XI having faced two games on the sidelines with suspension. David James walked back into the starting lineup having spent the last game on the touchlines passing on directions for the team as his slight niggle healed.

While David James has had a few good saves to made, Robert Pires has been far from convincing, but a few days’ rest seem to have done the Frenchman a favour, as he looked much more energetic and mobile and had one of his better games of the tournament.

Although FC Goa struggled to produce enough chances, David James had a few testers which he emerged on top of, thwarting away any danger thrown at the home side.

FC Goa certainly missed the graft and craft of Andre Santos and failed to be incisive enough with their midfield failing to create enough chances for Slepicka to pounce on. And though Kerala Blasters managed to win the game courtesy of the sole goal scored by Milagres Gonsalves, Iain Hume’s presence was something the home team seemed to be missing at certain stages of the game.

#3 Super-sub Milagres Gonsalves

Not once, but twice it has happened that a Goan has sunk FC Goa. After Cavin Lobo’s brace led FC Goa to a defeat in a game they dominated, Milagres Gonsalves came off the bench to score the winner and the only goal of the game.

Kerala Blaster had some good forays into the FC Goa penalty area in the first half, but failed to score as CS Sabeeth hit the post with one attempt, while other were either feeble or off the mark. The home side picked up the momentum in the second half, but having failed to convert the chances, Kerala Blasters think tank got on Milagres Gonsalves for CS Sabeeth, while Andrew Barisic too came on to go to a 4-4-2.

The move provided rich dividends as both substitutes combined for the goal. Andrew Barisic sent a brilliant cross right across the face of the goal, leaving Milagres to a simple tap in to put the team ahead and he did just that in the 64th minute, bringing immense cheer to the crowd and the management alike and putting the blasters on their way to the second win of the tournament and one in one at home.

#4 FC Goas lack of incision and the absence of Edgar Marcelino

FC Goa’s team selection hasn’t always been perfect and though the introduction of Tolgay Ozbey worked in the last game, today’s match was calling on for a crafty player as Edgar Marecelino, but unfortunately the Portuguese was injured and not in the squad.

It wasn’t as if FC Goa created a lot of chances and were wasteful in the final third, they lacked creativity and incision. Pires hasn’t been at his best. Bruno Pinheiro and Jewel Raja were deployed in a not so advanced role and hence whatever came from them needed to be pin point and played over the defence, which did not happen.

Given Santos was struggling with an injury, the introduction of Edgar seemed imminent as the Portuguese not only adds more pace and flair to the game, but is capable of picking the right passes and thread balls through an astute defence. Kerala were holding their line well and despite the two strikers in Slepicka and Tolgay tried to stretch the defence, there was no supply which they could make the most of.

FC Goa looked most threatening on set pieces with their tall central defensive pairing of Gregroy Arnolin and Youness Bengelloun attacking the ball and trying to get it past David James. But otherwise during field play, FC Goa looked short on ideas and it seemed that most of their fuel, though well spent, had been spent at home against the Delhi dynamos in the previous game where they earned a last gasp winner.

#5 Indians shine; win all four awards

It was truly an “INDIAN” Super League game as the domestic players did excessively well over the course of the game. While FC Goa full backs Narayan Das and Debrata Roy were mostly brilliant, Sandesh Jhingan too stood tall for the Kerala Blasters defence.

CS Sabeeth had a good 50 minutes in the game before being replaced as hit the post once and was involved in a few other threatening moves. The super-sub Milagres Gonsalves forced the crow to tap their foot in unison and in full voice as he netted the winner in the 64th game and emerged as the hero of the game.

Swift Moment of the Match - C S Sabeeth Fittest Player of the Match - Narayan DasISL Emerging Player - Sandesh JhinganHero of the Match - Milagres