Live Chat
online
Create
A great first half was followed by a DIRE second half. Neither team can be disappointed, or happy with this. Kerala had the better (and more) chances, but Kolkata's goal really was a thing of beauty.
Good stuff from all the players, but these two teams really need their Fish Fry
You know who are really happy? NorthEast United that's who! And even they'll be a bit worried.
It was a decent 'nuff game, and thank you for reading! It's been a pleasure!
Anirudh Menon signing out...
Toodle ooo!
Someone listen to me?
93' Belfort is down with cramp. Ref, blow the whistle will you?
92' Both teams seem satisfied with a point each. Some enterprise, my good people?
91' The ball is launched forward by Mondal, and Postiga's header lacks any sort of power. Stack gathers quite easily.
89' SUBSTITUTION - Javi Lara OFF, Sameegh Doutie ON. Could Kolkata nick this on the back of the South African's pace.
88' Oh Postiga - arguably the worst shot in the man's illustrious career. He attempted a volley from the edge of the box, and the ball flew into Row Z
86' Kerala are the team pushing for an equaliser here - Rafi tries from range, but that doesn't have the power in it to trouble Debjit.
85' Postiga tries an extravagant dummy on the edge of the Kerala box, but Hughes reads him like he's a nursery rhyme book. Too Easy for the big man!
82' I can almost hear the Ooohs and Aaahs emanating from Electronic City as my colleague Sunny Sagar enjoys the delectable fare being served in Kolkata! Man enjoys his fish too! Good man, is what I'm trying to say
SUBSTITUTION for Kerala - Ishfaq Ahmed hobbles OFF to be replaced by Vinit Rai.
81' WHAT A FIRST TOUCH. Juan Belencoso kills a steepling ball dead with a beautiful touch of his instep. The ball is finally worked out to Pearson, but this time the midfielder's shooting is off.
80' Mehtab Hossain takes a pop at goal - he sure can hit them from there - but it floats well wide and right into the Sarobar next to the stadium.
79' SUBSTITUTION - Hume OFF, Juan Belencoso ON!!! The Juan is my colleague Soumalya's favourite-ever player (sense the sarcasm, please)
There is a goal in the offing here - one can just sense it.
77' Another corner for Kerala. Another one swung in by Hussain... AND RAFI SMACK AT GOAL IS BLOIKCED BY RUIDAS!!! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 2 IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE KOLKATA WINGER'S EXCELLENT BLOCK. Belfort roars in and smashes a shot well wide of the goal.
75' The ball is played in pretty well, but Rafi can't direct his header towards goal! The crowd meanwhile are screaming "ATK! ATK! ATK!"
74' Kerala come roaring forward after Vineeth robs Borja on the halfway line, and it is a corner that Mehtab is standing over!
72' WHAT ARE YOU DOING EL HADJI N'DOYE!! He ruins a perfectly good move by playing a chipped through ball (R2 + triangle on your consoles, kids) straight to the advertising hoardings.
71' Keegan Perreira enters the ref's naughty book for smacking into CK Vineeth. No presents from Santa for you, Keegan! The freekick is floated in by Josu, but Kolkata clear - a touch too frantically.
70' Hughes lets Hume know he's still around. Sneaky from the experienced Northern Irishman - went unpunished too!
69' Stack takes his time about clearing the ball, and Hume closes it down! The ball runs out for a Kerala throw - but THAT COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE!
68' Coppell's tactics are right out of Tony Pulis' play book. Someone buy him a Cap, please?
66' N'Doye plays in a through ball (FINALLY) and Ishfaq tries to run on to it. The old man just didn't have the legs on him.
66' CK Vineeth's gesture was really great. Have a look at what he did here! Have a look, and come right back, will you?
65' The inswinging delivery is very good, but Cedric Hengbart heads it well wide!
64' Josu pumps it in, VIneeth heads it on... and Mondal hacks it away to concede a corner!! Metab stands over it.
63' Yellow for Hume for an alleged handball. It could have been his chest - but his arms were raised! Tough one for the ref. On the other end, Vineeth hassles Tiri a bit too hard, and concedes another foul
62' Another long ball in search of Vineeth. Another futile chase by the Malayalee - and he pulls Pearson back in frustration.
60' Ouch! Postiga tries a bicycle kick from the corner, but only manages to smack Jhingan on the noggin'. Peep! Foul!
59' OOOOO RUIDAS IS PLAYED IN ON GOAL, AND JUST AS HE PREPS TO SHOOT JHINGAN STICKS IN WITH A SUPERB TACKLE!! GREAT DEFENDING FROM THE CHARISMATIC KERALA MAN!
58' This game needs something - a goal, a fight, a mazy dribble - something! Belfort tries to oblige by going on a run down the left! The ball is worked out to Ishfaq on the right, but the Kashmiri is simply bullied off the ball by Keegan. Impressive strength from the substitute!
56' Ruidas tries to play in Hume, but the ball has too much oomph in it - and Stack gathers with the minimum of fuss
55' Josu sends in a superb ball that Hughes heads across the goal, but the ref blows his whistle for some infringement by Kerala. Hossain kicks the ball away in frustration, and that's a yellow for the midfield general.
54' Josu rampages down the left - combining well with Belfort - and puts in a cross that hits Kotal's raised arms. Definite freekick.
52' Iain Hume is challenged rather robustly by Josu, and he doesn't appreciate it. Kerala have the ball, though, and they try to lauch something. Nothing gets launched though
50' Kolkata are on the front foot and Hume & Borja try to combine and create some mischief. Belfort gets fed up, robs Javi off the ball and runs straight at the home side defence. Nothing happens of it, but Coppell would have appreciated the enterprise.
48' It's all a bit scrappy now as both sides struggle to find their feet. Hossain is back on the field, FYI
Hossain walks off with an ice pack on his left wrist! Hope, for Kerala's sake, its a temporary affliction.
46' OUCH! Borja whacks Hossain accidentally, and the Kerala man is down on the ground in agonizing pain! A small stoppage of play as he is attended to!
Peep! We're off.
SUBSTITUTION for Kolkata - Keegan Perreira on for an injured Robert (straight swap)
Vineeth has been a constant menace, and Mehtab Hossain has been brilliant. But the player of the half has been Javi Lara - the Spaniard has looked threatening every time he has had the ball at his feet.
Great half of football, and this should make for a superb second half!
47' Two minutes off added time go away without incident.
45' Josu has not been able to move forward much all day, but in his first real foray sends in a PEACH of a cross into the box. N'Doye runs on to it and HEADS IT WIDE!!!
44' SO POOR FROM RAFI! JOSU'S BALL WAS BEGGING FOR A NOD IN, AND MOHAMMED RAFI, ALL ALONE AT THE EDGE OF THE SIX YARD BOX, HEADS IT OVER!!! That should have been two
43' Belfort shows some quick feet to win a freekick off Borja and Josu sends it in!
42' N'doye loses the ball in the Kolkata half - I am not sure what he has brought to the table today. He may very well not survive the half time break
41' Pritam Kotal and Javi Lara go bombing down the right once again - Josu and Belfort are not the best defensively - and Kotal's overhit cross is met by Ruidas who smacks the ball across the face of the goal, and just wide!
Live Chat
online
Yaay, the ref did listen to me!
PEEP!! PEEP!! FULLTIME!!!
KOLKATA 1 - 1 KERALA