ISL 3: Blasters enter top four after Vineeth’s injury time strike

by Chittu Shetty November 9, 2016

FC Goa, who were down to nine men by the end of game, were beaten by Kerala courtesy of returning striker CK Vineeth’s injury time goal.

Kervens Belfort celebrates a goal aganist FC Goa

CK Vineeth scored in the last minute of stoppage time to hand Kerala Blasters a last-gasp win over FC Goa after dominating the whole game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Rafael Coelho (9′) had put visitors in front, but an early second half goal by Belfort leveled the score-line, before returning Vineeth scored as late as in the ninety ninth minute to kill the game.

Kerala started with Pratik Chaudhary, Graham Stack, Mohammed Rafique and Michael Chopra back in the side. On the other end, Zico, made one big change, bringing in Raju Gaikwad for Jofre Mateu starting a six Indian player’s lineup.

Kerala started with dominating attitude going for goal from the word go. After few failed attempts from Belfort for the home side the visitors took the lead against the run of play. Richarlyson’s dangerous free kick into the box was headed by Rafael Coelho in between the legs of Kerala custodian Graham stack.

Going goal down, Kerala began attacking vigorously; first Rafi’s lofted cross for Belfort inside the box was headed just wide by the striker, then in the 17th minute after neat play between Rafi and Belfort, the ball was fed to Rafique whose cross was met by Belfort only to head agonizingly wide.

In the 24th minute, Belfort brilliantly foxed couple of Goan players to find Chopra outside the box, who played in Rafique whose shot from a tight angle was blocked.

First half ended with Kerala still trailing by a goal despite raking up numerous chances. Before second half started Coppell brought Didier Kadio for Azrack Mahamat while Zico replaced goal scorer Rafael for an extra midfielder in Trindade.

Also Read: ISL 3: FC Pune city breeze past Atletico de Kolkata to record first home win

But the second half began disastrously for Goa, after a rather harsh decision on captain Gregory Arnolin who was given marching orders after he had appeared to handled a goal-bound shot from Rafique. While the penalty seemed fair, the red card seemed outrageous as it sparked furor in the Goa ranks. Kervens Belfort calmly dispatched off the resulting penalty as the home crowd went into raptures.

With the equalizer in the kitty, Kerala went ahead with offence first Belfort saw a header off Josu’s cross fly wide then Kadio’s shot from outside the box flew over. Soon, Zico replaced Robin singh with midfielder Sahil Tavora while Kerala brought on Antonio German for a struggling Michael Chopra.

Blasters continued to keep the attacking momentum going looking for the winner. In the 71st minute, Rafique was through on goal from German’s pass but the Indian winger’s failed to score past Kattimani. With time running out, Coppell threw on local-lad CK Vineeth, who was returning from Bengaluru FC duty, for Rafique.

In the 81st minute, Richarlyson was shown a second yellow for a two-footed lunge on CK Vineeth leaving Goa two-men down to enrage Zico and his staff. German resulting freekick was punched away by an alert Kattimani as the visitors held on.

A huge nine minutes of additional time was provided and Blasters went all out for the winner. Rafi’s effort from Belfort’s cross was deflected for a corner from which German’s effort went just over.

With last few minutes left, Raju Gaikwad was booked by officials for time wasting which further enraged Zico. Kerala on their part never gave any respite for Goa, a loose ball from one of the many crosses fell to Belfort, as his effort was pushed away by Kattimani.

But in the last minute of injury time, Goa were down to eight men after romeo was stretchered off the pitch just before a corner was taken by blasters, the ball fell to Vineeth who guided it past Kattimani, much to the heartbreak of the Goans as the home crowd went into frenzy.

The game ended on a ugly note as after the final whistle the match officials were surrounded by the Goan team and the referees had to whisked away to safety. With this win Blasters move into top four, while Zico’s men’s chances of reaching the semi finals has almost ended.

Kerala Blasters FC (Belfort 48’, Vineeth 90+9’) 2 – 1 FC Goa (Rafael 9’)