Kerala Blasters scored two early goals through Jeakson Singh and Adrian Luna before Jorge Ortiz and Edu Bedia netted for FC Goa to level the score before the break.
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Kerala Blasters FC boss Ivan Vukomanovic was fairly satisfied with his side’s 2-2 draw against FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) fixture at Tilak Maidan on Sunday. The Blasters took a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes courtesy of goals from Jeakson Singh and Adrian Luna. However FC Goa fought their way back into the game to level the score through goals from Jorge Ortiz and Edu Bedia before the break. It was a game that saw some superb goals as Luna beat FC Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh with a brilliant dipping shot from outside the box while Bedia scored an Olympic goal.
An action-packed encounter at the Maidan ends all square ?#KBFCFCG #YennumYellow #KBFC #കേരളബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ് pic.twitter.com/p9HFZbBJ5D
— K e r a l a B l a s t e r s F C (@KeralaBlasters) January 2, 2022
Blasters have been very good this season having lost only once in nine matches. Vukomanovic’s side plays a high pressing game and are very good at winning the ball possession back and also they have been clinical up front. Jeakson opened the scoring with a near post header from a corner kick before Luna was given space on the left side and the 29-year-old’s shot dipped past Dheeraj from 30-yards out. The ball hit the post and went in leaving the 21-year-old custodian with no chance to keep it out.
Vukomanovic was speaking to the media after the match and he said “If we see the way both teams scored the goals and the way the game was developing in both halves, let’s say that in the end, both the teams can live with one point. Of course, both teams in this situation wanted to win. I also talked with the team yesterday, in the beginning, to press and make a difference in the front, especially in the first half and score some goals, which happened.”
After the initial burst from the Blasters, FC Goa quickly got back into the game as Ortiz made it 2-1 with another brilliant goal. The Spanish striker received the ball from Saviour Gama, turned sharply and slotted home past Gill from outside the box. And then in the 38th minute, Bedia curled in an exquisite corner to make the score line 2-2.
Vukomanovic added “The way we conceded the goals, I was not pleased with it but anyway it happens in football. We have to deal with it and continue to work hard. We as a team are coming from far away seeing the situation of the tournament since the beginning of the season. We are now eight games without a defeat, we have to continue building up.”
The game didn’t live upto the expectation in the second half. FC Goa came out with a bit more intent while Blasters failed to pose too much of a threat to the Goa defense. “We have to be honest, FC Goa is the team that is dominant against all the teams. Whenever they play, they are a dominant side.” the 44-year-old said.
Blasters defended pretty well in the second half. Central defender Marko Leskovic along with local lad Bijoy Varghese did a decent job to prevent Goa from getting the winner. Meanwhile Blasters’ biggest strength this season has been the collective effort they put in as a team, whether going forward or while defending.
The Serbian said about Blasters’ performance in the second half “Defensively, we were solid, we were running a lot and we were trying to close all the gaps. We know this team of Goa is very dangerous especially after the goals we conceded. So, we wanted to stay organised, focussed and we knew this game was going to be tough like that. Goa is one of the best teams in the league.”
