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Kerala Blasters’ coach, Peter Taylor sprang a surprise with his line-up, making a bold decision to play 3 centre backs. The Blasters, went with the experienced trio of Peter Ramage, Bruno Perone and Marcus Williams at the back. Local boys, CK Vineeth and Mohammed Rafi were handed starts to impress on their home soil.
The visitors were also set up to play the infamous 3 at the back defensive formation. Miguel Garcia, Reagen and Hengbart started as the rear guard for NorthEast United. In the absence of their marquee man, Simão Sabrosa, NorthEast had to make do with another Portuguese international, Silas in midfield. Coach Cesar Farias gave the nod to another local player, Rehenesh.TP, who started between the sticks for the visitors.
Both sides enjoyed a good share of possession in the timid opening minutes at the Nehru Stadium. Shots from Peter Carvalho and Rahul Bheke failed to test the NorthEast keeper, Rehenesh in the early stages. The first real chance of the game fell to the Yellow brigade, 6 minutes in. Kerala’s homeboy Rafi could only put the ball over the empty net, after clever exchange between Josu and Chris Dagnall.
In the 11th minute, C.K Vineeth’s quick move on the left, freed him from the NorthEast full back, Seityasen and picked out Bheke at the far post but the Kerala player only slashed the ball wide.
Just moments later, Bywater would be forced to come out and deny Nicolas Velez and keep the Blasters in the game.
However, chances kept coming for the South Indian side from the left wing, after a cross from Vineeth was headed right at the keeper by Rahul, Rehenesh spilled, but Dagnall failed to pounce on the loose ball.
Vineeth again looked dangerous as he dispatched a shot after beating Seityasen and Garcia with his quick feet.
There was a controversial moment as the impressive Vineeth appeared to be tripped by Seityasen right outside the box. But Referee for the night, C.R Krishna was having none of it.
Siam Hangal was the first one person to have his name taken when the referee booked the NorthEast playmaker for a rash challenge. On 27minutes, NorthEast was forced to make a change, as Garcia left the field injured as midfielder Sanju Pradhan replaced him.
Around the half hour mark, NorthEast enjoyed a good spell when midfielders, Boithang and Kamara combined well in the middle of the park but lacked the cutting edge to finish moves off.
The teams went into the break after an eventful first half, with scores tied at 0-0.
Francis Dadzie replaced Chris Dagnall at the break. Peter Taylor had clearly worked his magic in the dressing room at halftime, as Kerala looked sharper right from the go. The deadlock was broken on 49 minutes, by midfielder Josu Curias. The former Barcelona academy product produced a wonder strike with his left leg running onto a rebound. The ex-La Masia man, brought the roof down at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium with the stunning effort.
The Highlanders continued to fail to get a foothold of the game and Sanju Pradhan was the second NorthEast player to go into the referee’s book.
A well-executed set piece in the 55th minute saw Kerala get another effort on target, this time by defender Bruno Perone. The Brazilian rose high above NorthEast’s Hengbart to get his head on the ball but failed to beat the keeper.
A set piece at the other end, saw Boithang’s free kick swung into the danger zone, forcing a save from Stephen Bywater. At the hour mark, Mohammed Rafi brought delight to the home fans, as he doubled the Blasters’ advantage with a header. The move was a result of a throw in from Bheke, flicked on by Ramage onto the head of Rafi who finished it giving the keeper no chance.
Former Arsenal striker, Sanchez Watt added another goal, minutes later. He slotted home between the legs of the keeper Rehenesh, after a flawless move from the Blasters. Bywater’s long ball was helped into the danger zone by Rafi and Watt was first to it.
NorthEast pulled one back at 81 minutes. Argentine striker, Nicolas Velez cut inside of the Blasters’ defence and curled one into the far corner. The goal was to be a mere consolation for Cesar Farias’ side that was torn into shreds by an exuberant Kerala Blasters.
Josu was replaced by Joao Coimbra and Peter Carvalho by Gurwinder Singh on 84 minutes but neither team was to make a mark on the scoreboard till the end as the game finished 3-1 in favour of the home side.
