ISL 3: Blasters earn first win after Chopra’s second half strike

by Chittu Shetty October 15, 2016

Kerala blasters Secure their first win of ISL 3 campaign after Michael Chopra finally scored his first goal in Indian super league since being brought in the first season.

Chopra scored his first goal in 13 games for Kerala blasters against a very unimpressive Mumbai city FC outfit, Blasters now move to fifth spot with four points in four games while Mumbai remain at second with seven points in four games.

In search of the first win, Steve Coppell made three changes to his team that drew with Delhi, bringing back Captain Aaron Hughes to partner Cedric Hengbart as center backs, moving Sandesh Jhingan to the right back position. In the attack, Coppell dropped German and Nazon for Kervens Belfort and Rafi. Mumbai made three changes too, David Lalrinmuana given a start in place of the suspended Pranoy Halder, while Cardozo and Anwar Ali came in the defense.

The game began with kerala coming up with their first shot on goal in as early as thirty seconds, when Belfort’s cross found Rafi inside the box whose header went straight to the keeper. In the third minute, kerala had another opportunity, when Jhingan’s long ball found Rafi at the right but the striker instead of cutting the ball in for chopra inside the box, went for the shot that went wide.

Mumbai seemed out of ideas as Blasters repeatedly forayed in to their box, while the visitors were left to do little with the ball. In the 17^th minute, Azrack’s cross found Belfort, whose final strike failed to trouble Mumbai goal. Around half hour mark, Chopra won the ball from Boithang down the right and swung a ball into the box for his strikers but Volpato reached it first.

Also Read: BRICS Cup: Host India loses the final encounter 3-1 to Brazil, South Africa defeat Russia 3-1

Kerala’s repeated attacks put Mumbai in the defensive mode, Aibor Khonjee with a late, dangerous and poor tackle on Mehtab survived booking as the referee seemed to let him off with just a warning. In the 45^th minute, Josu’s brilliant diagonal cross found chopra in behind the defenders, but the former Newcastle player’s shot to the corner of the post was well saved by Roberto volpato, who got a hand to it just in time as the ball rolled past the other side of post. In the extra time of first half, Josu’s corner found Rafi inside the box, but the striker’s header went inches over the bar, as kerala went in to the half time with nothing to show on the scorecard, despite having eight shots compared to the one from Mumbai.

Second half started with Mumbai bringing in Jackichand in place for David Lalrinmuana, but it changed little as Kerala’s dominance continued. Josu and Azrack tired their chances at the Mumbai goal but like all through the game so far and three games before that, failed to find the net.

But in the 58^th minute, kerala finally found the net for the first time in four games, when Rafi’s ball from the right fell for Belfort whose shot deflected in the path of of chopra, who finally sent the ball past the Mumbai keeper as kerala took the lead.

In the 69^th minute, despite being second best Mumbai had the opportunity to escape with a point. Substitute Sony Norde dribbled past defenders inside the box from the left and took a shot at goal, with keepr beaten, the ball seemed headed for goal but Kerala marquee Aaron Hughes last minute timely clearance rescued kerala the blushes as that was the closest Mumbai went in the whole game.

The game ended with Kerala finally picking up three points at home, before they began their away phase of the tournament. After a draw and a loss now, Mumbai will be hoping to leave behind this disappointing game as they look to get back in winning mode.

Kerala Blasters FC 1 (Chopra 59’) – 0 Mumbai City FC