Agencies
KOCHI, OCTOBER 6
Last season's finalists Kerala Blasters FC got off to a great start with a resounding 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) round one fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Tuesday. Josue Currias (49') got the ball rolling before Mohammed Rafi (68') and Sanchez Watt (71') added two more for the hosts before Nicolas Velez (82') grabbed a late consolation goal for the away team.
With marquee players of both teams missing due to injury, the hosts were led by Peter Ramage while Portuguese defender Miguel Garcia captained the Highlanders.
Blasters handed starts to local lads CK Vineeth and Mohammed Rafi. Chris Dagnall led the attack for the team in yellow while former Premier League striker Diomansy Kamara led the line for NorthEast.
Both teams started tentatively with the play mostly confined to the middle of the park. The first chance of the match went the way of the Blasters in the 7th minute as Bheke sent Dagnall through only for Rehenesh to thwart him from outside the penalty box. The rebound fell to Rafi who blasted over with the goal unmanned from about 25 yards.
NorthEast soon settled into the game patiently trying to unlock the home defence with Bruno Arias in particular asserting his presence in midfield.All the chances were falling the way of the home team as Vineeth got the better of Seityasen Singh down the left and his cross found Bheke who volleyed wide in the 11th minute.
NorthEast showed their intent in the 12th minute as Siam Hanghal’s though-ball released Nicolas Velez but the Argentine’s effort was blocked by Stephen Bywater who rushed out and made himself big.
Kerala grew into the game and soon had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 18th minute as Bheke’s header from Josue’s cross was parried by Rehenesh only for Dagnall to scuff the rebound wide under pressure from the visiting defenders.
Meanwhile, Vineeth was finding much joy down the left as he tormented Seityasen and saw a shot saved by Rehenesh in the 22nd minute.
The away side’s captain Miguel Garcia was injured in the 25th minute and was replaced by Sanju Pradhan with Bruno Arias moving into the defence.
Vineeth was continuing to enjoy his battle with Seityasen as he got the better of him and slipped a through ball to Dagnall only for the Englishman to be caught offside in the 32nd minute.
The first half finished much like it began with most of the play bogged down in midfield and the teams went into the break level at 0-0.
Blasters brought former Arsenal player Watt on for Dagnall in the second half and began with intensity as a low cross from Vineeth evaded everybody in the NorthEast penalty box and Rehenesh had to parry it away in the 48th minute.
The visitors' relief didn’t last long as Bheke sent in a long throw in the 49th minute which was headed on by Bruno Perone. It fell kindly to Vineeth who scuffed his attempted scissor-kick into the path of Josue Currias who volleyed it into the top corner from just inside the box, firing the hosts into the lead.
The home team were full of intent and another counter had to be thwarted by Sanju Pradhan who felled Vineeth and got himself into the referee’s book in the 55th minute. Josue swung the resulting free-kick into the box and was met by Perone who could only direct it towards Rehenesh.
NorthEast soon started to get into good areas and won a free-kick down the right just outside the box and Haokip’s curling effort had to be punched out by Bywater.
The men in yellow were playing on the counter and Josue released Watt in the 65th minute only for Rehenesh to dash out and thwart him.
Four minutes later, Kerala extended their lead as Bheke sent in another identical throw-in to the one that brought the first goal. Ramage glanced the ball on for Rafi who headed it into the far corner much to the delight of the Kerala fans.
The Highlanders looked stunned and it got worse for them three minutes later. Bywater’s long punt upfield was headed on by Rafi and it fell into the path of Watt who raced clear and calmly slotted it through Rehenesh’s legs to make it 3-0 for the home team.
The 82nd minute saw the visitors pull one back through Velez. Francis Dadzie finds Silas who passed it for Velez on the left. The Argentine striker moved the ball to his favourite right foot and slotted into the far post with Bywater beaten.
Despite eight minutes of injury time, NorthEast United couldn't muster another chance as Blasters deservedly picked full points from the tie.
