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Bengaluru FC took home the spoils in this big Southern Derby on New Year's Eve in Kochi. In front of the boisterous Manjapadda, Albert Roca's men put in a good showing as they outplayed the hosts to emerge with a 3-1 win. It arrested their slump after they'd suffered losses in their two previous games. For the Blasters, it was another frustrating outing at home.
Here's what stood out from the game:
Udanta starts
Ahead of the game, Bengaluru FC included their young winger Udanta Singh in a list of players that would not feature today. He was said to be suffering from an ankle problem.
The India winger did feature though as he was part of the Bengaluru starting XI. Whether it was a last minute decision that deemed him fit enough to go or if it was a bit of a cat-and-mouse game from Bengaluru, no one knows, but it was quite intriguing all the same.
Neither of the other players made it though - defender John Johnson and midfielder Braulio Nobrega - did not make the matchday squad.
A feverish start and a feverish end
Sometimes the big games can be cagey affairs, but not this one. This game was very open in the first 15 minutes with both sides going for it. From the Blasters in particular, it represented a shift away from the norm as they have been content to play it safe, choosing to remain solid in their previous games.
CK Vineeth did not take to the field and replacing him was Iain Hume. Mark Sifneos and Hume at times made it a 4-4-2 for the Blasters, when they were attacking to give them more of a threat.
It made for a bright beginning.
The game ended like it started - three goals being scored in stoppage time. Miku scored twice thanks to some callous defending from the Blasters before Courage Pekuson scored a wonderful solo goal, getting past four challenges to grab a consolation for the beaten hosts.
But then Bengaluru seized control
It was the visitors however who proceeded to take control of the game after that opening 15-minute burst.
They hemmed the Blasters in their own half for much of the remaining period and will be kicking themselves for not having taken full advantage because they had chances.
Trouble was, their shots at goal were all at the keeper, Subhasish Roy Choudhury. Bengaluru's top scorer Miku had two of them, one a header from a corner and another snapshot, both straight into Chowdhury's hands. Sunil Chhetri's stinging shot from outside the box after a burst through the middle was also straight at Choudhury which he tipped over. And finally Edu Garcia also had his turn and he did exactly as his teammates had, rustling Chowdhury's palms.
Edu once again found Chowdhury with his shot from a beautiful set up from Chhetri in the second half. Thankfully for him, he was about to get a reprieve.
The second half saw more of the same as the Blasters found it extremely difficult to get into the game as Bengaluru controlled much of the traffic.
The hand of Jhingan
In the Blasters' last game, they gave away a penalty to Chennaiyin FC when captain Sandesh Jhingan was adjudged to have handled the ball. The ball had struck him around the armpit in that instance, making the call a touch unlucky.
Today's, though, was a nailed on penalty. The hand of Jhingan made it's presence felt once again, giving Bengaluru the penalty from which they took the lead.
In the 60th minute, Bengaluru fashioned a good opening when Chhetri after a very good run down the left served up a beautiful ball for Edu, who was making a run down the middle, to run onto and score. The Spaniard though flicked his effort straight at the keeper and dropped his head in despair. Chowdhury went down with a cramp. It looked like it was going to be a frustrating day for the visitors.
After much delay though, with Jhingan protesting vehemently, it was learnt that the referee had an in fact awarded a penalty. Everyone - Blasters players, Bengaluru players and the crowd - were taken by surprise with this one.
However, replays showed that it was a good spot on the referee's part - Jhingan clearly flicked his arm out to touch Chhetri's centre. The India and Bengaluru captain converted despite all of Chowdhury's clownish dancing before it. 1-0 Bengaluru.
The Blasters' home games are drying up
The Kerala Blasters have enjoyed one of the more favourable schedules in the first half of this season.
Five of their seven games thus far have come at home, but they have failed to make the most of them. Today was the first time they actually lost a home game this season, but they've also had only one win. From a possible 15 points up for grabs, they have picked up only 6 points.
Bengaluru were comfortably the better team today and the Blasters created barely any scoring chances of note. Offensively, it continues to be a struggle for Rene Meulensteen's men.
Will the Blasters be able to rebound?The next game for the Blasters is against FC Pune City who are beginning to find their form. They will also be without their starting centre-back Nemanja Lakic-Pesic for that game after he picked up his fourth yellow card.
