ISL 6: 10-man FC Goa hold Kerala Blasters to 2-2 draw

Ten-man FC Goa scored in stoppage time to hold Kerala Blasters to a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Indian Super League clash in Kochi.

Goan centre-back Mourtada Fall wrote the script for his side for nearly three-fourths of the game—first with an error that lead to the opening goal, then scoring a goal himself and then getting sent off early in the second half, only for Kerala to take the lead minutes later. But a late Lenny Rodrigues strike dashed the home team’s hopes of ending a four-match winless streak.

In the first minute of stoppage time, striker Manvir Singh took a stray ball and ventured into the box. His shot was parried away by Rehenesh, but an unmarked Lenny slammed it into the open net to stun the crowd of 21,000 spectators.

The result left head coaches of both teams—Sergio Lobera of FC Goa and Eelco Schattorie of Kerala Blasters—frustrated as their sides are struggling to hit top gear in this edition of the tournament.

Exactly one minute into game, midfielder Sergio Cidoncha scored to give the home team the unlikeliest of leads. Blasters used the early goal to their benefit and looked rejuvenated for the rest of the game.

A long throw into the box from Blasters left back Jessel Carneiro landed at the feet of Mourtada Fall, whose botched clearance was seized by a waiting Cidoncha at the edge of the box. The Spaniard blasted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, and goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz could do little to keep the ball out as it brushed his outstretched palm.

In the 41st minute, Blasters new signing Vlatko Drobarov rashly halted a Goa counter attack with a cynical tackle, about 30 yards from goal. He received a booking for it. The free kick was pushed away by Kerala’s custodian T.P Rehenesh. The stray ball was picked up by Goa’s winger Jackichand Singh, who whipped in a cross to the far post to find a towering Fall. The Senegal defender made amends by heading it into the back of the net, although Rehenesh could have done better to keep this one out.

Kerala looked confident in possession and strong in attack today. But the mistakes in defence and the missed opportunities in front of goal yet again returned to haunt the team.

The home team seemed to be on its way to win this one, after Fall, in the 52^nd minute, fouled Kerala Blasters striker and skipper Bartholomew Ogbeche, who was through on goal, just outside the penalty box. The referee took a dim view of the challenge and gave the burly defender his marching orders. Goa coach Sergio Lobera was furious with the decision and stood in his technical box sarcastically applauding the referee. He was later booked, late into the second half, for arguing with the referee.

Fall’s exit had an almost immediate impact on his team’s defence as Lenny Rodrigues was forced to fill the hole in defence, and struggled at it. Seven minutes after the sending off, the home team charged towards their goal and Kerala winger Prasanth Karuthadathkuni swung a low through ball from the left. It found Cameroonian striker Raphael Messi Bouli, who was sandwiched between two Goa defenders who tried their best to keep it out. Bouli took a tumble but not before somehow guiding it into the net for his team’s second goal.

Messi could have had another goal to his name but it was controversially ruled off-side.

Goa custodian Nawaz was called into action once again in the 67th minute when Blasters substitute Iron Seityasen’s long ranger almost sneaked in off the right post.

Both teams were struggling with injuries and suspensions, the most notable being the absence of the dangerous Goa striker Ferran Corominas. The Goans, predictably, lacked bite in attack. Kerala dominated most of the game, but could garner just one point.

It has been a slow start to the season for Lobera’s team so far. With just two wins from their first six games, last season’s table-toppers and runners-up are a shadow of the force they were last season. Though Lobera has retained most of last season’s squad—unlike the incoming Schattorie—injuries have hit them hard. The entertaining football that they were known for, has been found wanting.

Meanwhile, Ogbeche had yet another game to forget. Ever since his brace in the first game of the season against ATK, the captain has failed to find the net for his side. In the added time of the first half, he let loose a thunderous strike from outside the Goan box but an alert Nawaz fisted it out. In the second half, unmarked, he headed the easiest of chances wide. And with 10 minutes to go, he failed to find the target again from a counter-attacking play.

The draw means that Kerala are now eighth with a mere five points from six games. Goa are fourth, with nine points from six.