The two strongest challengers to league leaders Mumbai City FC, were not able to strike the decisive blow, as they were forced to split the points.
Follow Us
Kerala Blasters FC and Jamshedpur FC were involved in an exciting end-to-end encounter in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) but there was nothing to separate them after the match at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco, Goa ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Despite not seeing a host of chances, the match was filled with opportunities that were created through really good build-up play. However, the two strongest challengers to league leaders Mumbai City FC, were not able to strike the decisive blow, as they were forced to split the points. Both the goals came in an action-packed first half. Greg Stewart (14’) gave the Red Miners the lead with a stunning free-kick but Sahal Abdul Samad (27’) continued his red-hot form to equalise for the Blasters.
In the beginning of the Indian Super League match, the Blasters were dominating the ball but it was Jamshedpur FC who looked more threatening on the break. Owen Coyle’s men should have broken through in the tenth minute when Peter Hartley fluffed his line after receiving a cross just outside the six-yard area following a cleverly-worked move. Four minutes later, Jamshedpur FC made their early pressure count. It was mainly due to Stewart’s brilliance as he caught the goalkeeper out with an inch-perfect free-kick that curled into the net beating the shot-stopper at the post he was expected to have covered.
4⃣ Goals in 8⃣ matches! ⚡@sahal_samad is in the form of his life! ?#HeroISL #LetsFootball#Repost @keralablasters
…
ആഹ്ലാദം, സംതൃപ്തി ??#KBFCJFC #YennumYellow #KBFC #കേരളബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ് pic.twitter.com/vP21IbDciN— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 26, 2021
The game got stretched a bit following the opening goal with both teams trading blows. However, it was Jamshedpur FC that carried the bigger threat thanks to their direct style play which caused the Blasters’ defence various problems. But against the run of play, the Blasters levelled the scoreline when Sahal poked home from close range after Rehenesh had parried a shot from Alvaro Vazquez in his path in the 27th minute.
Sahal might have scored it, but the goal was all Vazquez’s making as he opened up Jamshedpur FC’s defence with a clever turn and ran at the backline to create space for the shot that eventually led to the equaliser. Buoyed by the goal, the Blasters started to dictate the game, as they were the better team after the goal. They appeared to have been denied a penalty in the 37th minute when a cross struck Laldinliana Rentlei’s hand. But the referee thought otherwise. With no more goals to come, the two sides went into the break level at 1-1. They both enjoyed good spells at various parts of that opening 45-minute period.
Kerala Blasters FC started the second half on the front foot and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 50th minute. Hartley let a ball slip under his feet, which allowed Vazquez to get onto the ball and chip the goalkeeper, however, to his dismay the ball bounced off the crossbar. The match soon turned out to be a tight contest, as the two teams enjoyed half-chances in the second period but neither could make it count.
The best opportunity to win the match fell to Jamshedpur FC’s way in the 84th minute. Ricky Lallawmawma did well to win the ball back and play in Ishan Pandita through on goal but the Indian striker couldn’t convert as his effort was saved by Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Both teams pushed hard for a winner in the dying minutes but the breakthrough didn’t come as the game ended with the points shared.
The draw meant Jamshedpur FC stayed second while Kerala Blasters FC remained level on points with their opponents in the third spot. The Blasters next face FC Goa on Sunday while Jamshedpur FC’s next assignment is on January 6th against NorthEast United FC.
