'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kerala Blasters' winless run in ISL 2019-20 season continued as they played out a 2-2 draw with FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. The Gaurs made their way back to the top four in the points table with nine points from six matches.
Sergio Cidoncha gave Kerala Blasters the lead after 61 seconds of the game when he powered Mourtada Fall's faulty clearance straight into the back of the net to score the fastest goal of current ISL season.
The Senegalese made up for his mistake in the 41st minute when he towered above his marker to head home Jackichand Singh's cross and level terms for FC Goa.
But, his overcommitting attitude saw him get a straight red in the second half. Kerala Blasters made the extra man count as Raphael Messi Boulli found himself at the end of a cross from Prasanth Karuthadathkuni from the left wing to give them the lead.
And, just when it seemed like it was all over, Lenny Rodrigues restored parity for FC Goa in the 92nd minute of the game after Kerala Blasters' goalkeeper Rehenesh TP cleared Manvir Singh's initial shot only as far as the Goan midfielder.
#5 FC Goa's suspensions and injuries force Sergio Lobera to change positions
FC Goa made only one change in personnel to the side that lost 1-0 to Jamshedpur. But, head coach Sergio Lobera had to switch positions of as many as four players to regain balance in the team.
Saviour Gama slotted in the left-back position forcing FC Goa's captain Mandar Rao Desai to play in the left wing. Brandon Fernandes, whom we normally see in that position, shifted centrally. And, Ahmed Jahouh's absence also saw Edu Bedia play in an unfamiliar defensive midfielder role.
One can say the tactic worked as Mandar got relieved of much of his defensive duties whereas Brandon had an influential role to play for FC Goa. The Indian international created three chances, made four crosses, and had one shot on target.
Edu Bedia had an off-day trying to fill Jahouh's shoes as he couldn't make a single interception, block, or tackle and even went into the book.
#4 First half was even-stevens
The first half was an even contest and the one-all scoreline at the end of it was thoroughly justified. Kerala Blasters took the lead through Sergio Cidoncha after the Spaniard pounced on a rebound from Raju Gaikwad's long throw.
FC Goa nearly found themselves back in the game three minutes later when Brandon Fernandes threaded a beautiful through ball to Manvir Singh. However, the linesman raised his flag although the replays suggested otherwise.
Brandon tried to tee up Mandar with another delightful through ball on the right in the 18th minute of the game but Kerala Blasters' goalkeeper Rehenesh TP came off his line to collect the ball.
Both sides flooded in crosses from both ends resulting in one more goal before half-time. But, it was FC Goa who got rewarded as Jackichand Singh's cross to the far post from the left wing saw an unmarked Mourtada Fall angle his header beyond Rehenesh's reach.
In the dying seconds of the first half, Bartholomew Ogbeche let loose a shot from distance that had Mohammed Nawaz dive full stretch to parry the ball away from danger.
#3 Down a man, FC Goa forced to change their gameplan
Mourtada Fall mistimed his tackle in the 52nd minute to see a straight red. Sergio Lobera waited to make his substitution that saw Lenny Rodrigues slot in the back-four. That mistake cost them dearly as his inexperience to not challenge for a low cross from Prasanth saw Messi Boulli flick his shot into the back of the net.
Sergio Lobera finally brought Mohammed Ali in place of Saviour Gama and Mandar went back into his left-back position to keep his team in a 4-4-1 shape. Kerala Blasters were all over FC Goa with an extra man which saw them dominate possession and make more successful passes.
From Seityasen's shot on target from distance to Raphael Messi Boulli bulging the back of the net only for it to be called offside, FC Goa had to rely on counter-attack perhaps for the first time under Sergio Lobera.
But, an erroneous clearance from the Kerala Blasters defense saw Manvir Singh having the ball at his feet inside the penalty box. Rehenesh got a palm to his shot but it went only as far as Lenny Rodrigues, who had to simply tap the ball into the empty net.
#2 Kerala Blasters experiencing similar fortunes to that of last season
Six games into last season, Kerala Blasters picked up only one victory and drew four matches. That win coincidentally came against ATK in the season-opener. Two games later after David James' side had lost to FC Goa and NorthEast United, the Englishman saw the sack.
Six games into this season, Eelco Schattorie's team find themselves with only one win and two draws. They are rooted in the eighth spot with a negative goal difference and a lesser number of points in their bag.
Eelco Schattorie's only woe is his long injury list. With Rahul KP and possibly their latest signing Vlatko Drobarov also added, the Dutchman's worries have been compounded further.
Most of the teams had earmarked Kerala Blasters as a team to finish inside the top four after their spendthrift but measured spendings in the transfer market. But now, it looks like a mere mathematical possibility.
#1 FC Goa to return with a renewed vigour as suspensions of players get lifted
Looking back, this was probably the toughest fixture for FC Goa. Having Seiminlen Doungel, Ahmed Jahouh, and Hugo Boumous out due to suspensions and Ferran Corominas down with an injury in front of a vociferous Kochi crowd, Sergio Lobera would have taken a point with all his heart before the game began.
And now that they have earned it, one does wonder if they will only go stronger from here. All four of the aforementioned names should be back for their next encounter against Hyderabad FC but FC Goa will miss the services of Mourtada Fall.
In their absence, the likes of Jackichand Singh, Manvir Singh, and Saviour Gama have thrived. And, Brandon Fernandes has found a new element in his game with his defence-splitting passes.
FC Goa's bench strength will give Sergio Lobera a happy problem while selecting his best eleven. And, that could spell disaster for their latest opposition like Hyderabad and ATK.
