KOCHI: Kerala Blasters FC extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, moving up to third place after a late goal from Sandep Singh earned them a 1-0 win over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League here Monday.
It was a two-half game for the Blasters, who failed to find their rhythm in the first half but bounced back in the second half, with Sandeep Singh scoring the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.
The hosts made a change which saw left-back Jessel Carneiro replace Nishu Kumar in the starting XI.
The visitors made some changes as Nandhakumar Sekar returned to the left flank after serving his suspension, while Victor Rodriguez came in to make his first start of the season – Jerry Mawihmingthanga and Diego Mauricio fell to the bench.
KBFC nearly cashed in in the third minute when Ivan Kaliuzhnyi’s header clearance from inside the box went straight to Raynier Fernandes on the edge of the box.
The midfielder let one fly and saw it come off the crossbar before a well-marked Adrian Luna fired the rebound high.
The first half ended without goals, but it was a spirited time. Five yellow cards were shown before the break, with the Blasters picking up four.
At half-time, Odisha FC managed eight attempts, three of them on target, while the hosts managed just one wayward shot from Carneiro.
The Odisha FC defense faced a barrage of attacks from the Blasters as the game entered its final quarter.
In the 71st minute, a pass from Carlos Delgado allows Sahal Abdul Samad to break through.
The winger kicked the ball into Nihal Sudeesh’s path, but he was inches away from the substitute who had just entered.
Seven minutes from time, Carneiro fired a fierce strike at the near post after a short free kick.
The ball touched the post and crossed the face of the goal before reaching Marko Leskovic.
The defender decided to cross rather than shoot into the empty net and ended up giving the ball away to the Juggernauts.
With four minutes to go, constant pressure from the Kerala Blasters paid off as they put their nose to the front. Substitute Bryce Miranda curled a cross into the box from the left flank.
Amrinder Singh came out to hit it but missed the ball as it bounced and fell on Sandeep who headed it into an empty net.
It was a two-half game for the Blasters, who failed to find their rhythm in the first half but bounced back in the second half, with Sandeep Singh scoring the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.
The hosts made a change which saw left-back Jessel Carneiro replace Nishu Kumar in the starting XI.
The visitors made some changes as Nandhakumar Sekar returned to the left flank after serving his suspension, while Victor Rodriguez came in to make his first start of the season – Jerry Mawihmingthanga and Diego Mauricio fell to the bench.
KBFC nearly cashed in in the third minute when Ivan Kaliuzhnyi’s header clearance from inside the box went straight to Raynier Fernandes on the edge of the box.
The midfielder let one fly and saw it come off the crossbar before a well-marked Adrian Luna fired the rebound high.
The first half ended without goals, but it was a spirited time. Five yellow cards were shown before the break, with the Blasters picking up four.
At half-time, Odisha FC managed eight attempts, three of them on target, while the hosts managed just one wayward shot from Carneiro.
The Odisha FC defense faced a barrage of attacks from the Blasters as the game entered its final quarter.
In the 71st minute, a pass from Carlos Delgado allows Sahal Abdul Samad to break through.
The winger kicked the ball into Nihal Sudeesh’s path, but he was inches away from the substitute who had just entered.
Seven minutes from time, Carneiro fired a fierce strike at the near post after a short free kick.
The ball touched the post and crossed the face of the goal before reaching Marko Leskovic.
The defender decided to cross rather than shoot into the empty net and ended up giving the ball away to the Juggernauts.
With four minutes to go, constant pressure from the Kerala Blasters paid off as they put their nose to the front. Substitute Bryce Miranda curled a cross into the box from the left flank.
Amrinder Singh came out to hit it but missed the ball as it bounced and fell on Sandeep who headed it into an empty net.
