THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

FC Goa reclaim ISL top spot with a 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters FC

FC Goa
FC Goa

Photo courtesy: FC Goa

FC Goa beat Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 in an Indian Super League (ISL) Season 2 match played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Thursday evening.

The Gaurs came from behind as Léo Moura (45’+1’) cancelled Mohammed Rafi’s 24th minute lead while Grégory Arnolin sealed the victory in the 84th minute.

Zico tinkered with his first eleven once again as he introduced right and left backs Nicolau Colaco and Narayan Das in place of Keenan Almeida and Debabrata Roy respectively, Pronay Halder in for Jofre Mateu Gonzalez and Darryl Duffy replacing CS Sabeeth.

Kerala Blasters coach Peter Taylor too made as many as five changes to his starting line-up as the Blasters’ early attacks were kept in check by Luciano Sobrosa and Arnolin.

FC Goa had an incredible chance in the 15th minute when Moura picked Duffy inside the opponent’s box but the Scot’s first touch was read well by Marcus Williams.

The southern side took the lead in the 24th minute, following a good build up between Sanchez Watt and Cavin Lobo, a cross from the right was swung in by Rahul Bheke for an unmarked Rafi to nod in.

Colaco contained the situation in Williams’ presence in the FC Goa box and was also involved with a couple of attacks on right wing that included an attempt to find Duffy intercepted by Joao Coimbra.

Lobo’s free kick almost dipped in but for Laxmikant Kattimani’s punch in the 41st minute after Rafi was brought down at the edge of the box by Sobrosa.

Moura put FC Goa back on track in the additional time of the first half as the Brazilian smashed in the rebound of Jonatan Lucca’s corner that was punched out by the Blasters custodian.

The home side’s defense was alert coming in the second half before Rafi turned around Arnolin but shot wide in the 57th minute.

Zico then brought on Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Dessai, who started on the bench for the last two consecutive games, as Darryl Duffy and Bikramjit Singh made way for the Goan duo.

Kattimani did well to dive low to his left and block a firm shot on goal by Sanchez, who was set up by Bruno Perone in the face of the FC Goa goal, off a long throw-in by Bheke in the 65th minute.

Sanchez almost got on the end of Shankar Sampingiraj’s cross from the right in the 74th minute and ten minutes later it was Goa’s captain fantastic Arnolin who rose highest to burry Mandar’s corner from the left in the far corner.

CK Vineeth was denied by Kattimani from close range when four minutes of added time were called on for and another of Bheke’s long throw-ins was headed agonisingly wide by Sandesh Jhingan in the dying minutes as the Goans held on to record their third win of the season to climb to the top of the standings with 10 points from five matches.