Battle for hope as Kerala hosts Chennaiyin

by Chittu Shetty January 31, 2020

South Indian rivals Kerala Blasters FC and Chennaiyin FC know there will be ramifications to their top-four hopes as they face each other in a Hero Indian Super League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium here on Saturday.

Kerala are currently in the eighth spot with 14 points from as many games. Eelco Schattorie’s men have no other option but register all three points, if they are to keep their slim chances of making it to the top-four alive.

Chennaiyin, who have 18 points from 13 matches, can draw level with Odisha FC, who are currently fourth on the table, with a win.

“Mathematically, anyone can reach fourth. Odisha won four games in a row. We were also behind, then we won two games in a row. It is all about that momentum, any team can qualify,” said Kerala assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed, who was deputising for the suspended Schattorie.

Kerala started 2020 with two successive wins but back-to-back defeats against Jamshedpur FC and FC Goa have left them in a desperate state. In both these games, Kerala played well in attack and looked set to salvage a point, if not three. However, defensive mistakes cost them both matches.

“We usually look at results, but I think the team has been playing fantastic football. It is not easy to play against a full-strength Goa and have sixty per cent possession. We have had those moments where we tend to commit mistakes in defence and concede goals. We need to give time to this team,” said Ishfaq.

Jamshedpur and Goa scored in the final 10 minutes to clinch all points against Kerala. Moreover, the absence of defender Victor Drobarov and defensive midfielder Moustapha Gning owing to suspension will be a huge blow.

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For ISL fixtures, League table and goal scorer stats visit: Hero ISL

However, one positive for them will be the form of Raphael Messi Bouli and Bartholomew Ogbeche. Both of them have been in good goalscoring form upfront, contributing eight and seven goals respectively. Chennaiyin, on the other hand, are in a purple patch as of now. They have won their last three games and scored four past Jamshedpur FC in the last match, something they last did in November 2018.

With ISL topscorer Nerijus Valskis (10 goals) and Andre Schembri among the goals, and Raphael Crivellaro pulling the strings in midfield, Owen Coyle’s team has shown a lot of promise in attack.

Anirudh Thapa and Edwin Vanspaul who have been deployed in midfield recently will once again be tasked with controlling the game. But Coyle will want his defence to show a bit more solidity, after showing a tendency to concede cheap goals as they did in their 4-1 win over Jamshedpur.

“We have shown that we can defend well. We are getting better at it. If we continue to do that, it will help us moving forward. Both teams have terrific attackers, Messi Bouli and Ogbeche for them. We are well aware of their threat. We have to be respectful, but we also know that if we are at our best, we can win,” said Coyle.

However, when two rivals come face to face, the form chart often goes for a toss and both sides will be confident of pulling off a victory. With a lot on the line, sparks will fly in a game that has always been intense both for the players and fans.