Kerala Blasters vs FC Goa highlights, KBFC 4-2 FCG, ISL 10: Diamantakos stars in Blasters’ comeback win against the Gaurs

It has been a classic encounter at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Kerala Blasters has come back from 2-0 down and clinched a 4-2 win against FC Goa. 

Diamantakos with a brace, with Daisuke and Cernych grabbing a goal each. 

FC Goa loses its third match on the trot. 

Noah tries to find Brison with a flick but the weight of the flick is too much and Karanjit comes off his line to collect the ball. 

KBFC subs: IN- Justine, Danish OUT- Daisuke, Vibin

Boris tries to wriggle his way past three Kerala players and get something inside the box but he is crowded out and the Blasters have the ball again. 

Nine minutes added at the end of the second half. A one-goal lead would have been nervy for the Blasters, but Cernych’s goal will surely have won it for the Blasters. It has been an ISL classic here at the Nehru Stadium. 

Diamatakos gets the ball and spots Cernych free on the right side of the box. Cernych, who made a good run on the right side of the box, takes a first-time grounded shot and buries the ball in the back of the net for his debut ISL goal. What an incredible comeback from the Blasters in front of its home crowd. 

FCG booking: Jay Gupta becomes the latest player to get in the referee’s book for a late challenge. 

KBFC booking: Diamatakos is shown a yellow card for taking his jersey off but he would not mind that one bit.

A cross is whipped in from the left flank, which is initially collected by Arshdeep. But, he cannot hold on to the ball and spills it. Diamantakos, in the right place at the right time, bundles the ball inside the net from close distance. The comeback is complete as things stand. 

The shirt goes off in celebration and the roof has come down at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi. 

Yasir swings in a dangerous cross inside the Blasters box and Retre almost gets his head to it. A solid connection there and it would most probably be a goal for the Gaurs. What a match we have on or hands now. 

It was never in doubt was it? Diamantakos sends Arshdeep the wrong way and blasts the ball into the bottom right-corner to score Kerala Blasters’ equaliser. 

Daisuke delivers a cross inside the box, with the intention of finding Cernych. McHugh tries to clear the ball with his head but ends up touching the ball with his hand and the refeee points to the spot. 

The match has had its final drinks break and now the final push begins. For Blasters, it would be to score the equaliser and for Goal, it would be to protect its lead and if possible, score a third. 

Momentum is shifting and Kerala Blasters look favourite to grab the equaliser at the moment. Unlike the first-half, it is the Blasters who is doing most of the attacking. 

Yasir’s delivery inside the box from a Goa corner falls to McHugh, who heads the ball at goal. But the effort is weak and straight at Karanjit, who collects the ball with ease. 

Retre squares the ball to Noah from the right side of the box, with the latter looking for a first-time shot. But Drincic is there to prevent that from happening, as he clears the ball. 

Referee Pranjal Banerjee has given the ball slightly behind Diamantakos, not allowing the latter to take a direct shot at goal and he is not happy. 

KBFC sub: IN- Azhar OUT- Jeakson

Daisuke sets up Vibin for the shot and the latter obliges. But the referee comes in the way and blocks the effort. He stops play and it will be interesting to see what happens next. The incident has happened right at the edge of the box. 

Daisuke gets the ball and makes his way inside the box. He cuts in and lashes a shot at the goal. Odei puts his body on the line and makes the block. He bears the brunt of that block and stays on the ground, stopping play momentarily. However, he just looks winded and it is not anything serious. 

FCG sub: IN- Retre OUT- Borja

Borja Herrera looks to be in immense pain and he cannot continue and by the looks of it, needs to be carried off the pitch. That is a big loss for Goa, considering what Borja offers from set-pieces. 

FC Goa bookings: Carl McHugh is first shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge. Kerala wants to take a quick freekick but Nim prevents that by holding on to the ball. He sees a yellow card for that. 

Daisuke opens the face of his boot and catches the shot brilliantly. The ball dips at the right moment and despite Arshdeep diving at full-stretch, it hits the post and ends up inside the net. 

Odei with a challenge on Diamantakos near the Goa box and Kerala Blasters has a freekick in a dangerous position. 

Diamantakos takes a shot at goal from a narrow angle but Arshdeep does well to hold on to the ball. 

Kerala Blasters has started the second-half with urgency, putting the Goa defence under pressure. The half-time message from Vukomanovic is clear. 

FC Goa leads Kerala Blasters a 2-0 margin as the second-half starts at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. 

Goals from Rowllin Borges and Mohammad Yasir keep FC Goa in a 2-0 lead against Kerala Blasters at the break. 

Stay tuned for live updates from the second-half. We will be back after a short break. 

Sandeep tries to ping a cross inside the Kerala box but Udanta does well to get a touch as the ball takes a deflection and go straight to Arshdeep, who collects with ease. 

Three minutes added at the end of the first-half!

Sandeep whips a dangerous cross at the near-post from the right flank. Diamantakos looks for a first-time finish with the outside of his boot but Odei is there to pressurise Diamantakos into botching his shot. 

Rahul KP looks to capitalise on an excellent cross inside the Goa box. He tries to control the ball and get his shot away but the Gaurs defend as a team. Jay Gupta prevents Rahul from taking his shot and Odei clears the ball to safety. 

FCG booking: Goalscorer Rowllin Borges is the latest player to see a yellow card. 

A cross comes in from the left flank and Jeakson looks to get at the end of it. But the whistle goes against him for a high boot. 

Diamantakos wins the ball from Seriton. Seiton wanted a freekick but the whistle does not come. Diamantakos makes his way inside the box and shoots at goal from a tight angle and wins a corner for the Blasters. 

Kerala under pressure and it seems too easy for Goa in the final third. Noah tries to slip a pass for Borja, but this time, his pass is overhit and Borja cannot stop the ball from going out of play. And we will have the first drinks break of the match. 

Diamantakos gets the ball inside the Goa box, after doing well to stay onside. Arsh comes off his line to narrow the angle for Diamantakos. The Blasters forward tries to find Cernych with a toe poke but Nim does well to clear the ball. 

Noah makes a run behind the defence and controls the ball expertly after receiving the pass. He puts the ball inside the net with ease but the flag had gone up for offside. 

The replay, however, suggests that Drincic was clearly playing Noah onside and that is poor from the assistant referee. 

Borja almost finding Noah with an excellent through ball from the left flank but Karanjit reads the danger and comes off his line to clear the ball.

Diamantakos tries to set up Cernych inside the box but the Gaurs defence does well to get the ball away. Another cross comes in and this time, it is Odei who makes a solid block to send the ball out for a corner. 

Noah shows excellent feet and raw pace on the left flank to get past his marker. Making his way near the box, he spots Yasir at the far-post and squares the ball to him with a well-measured pass. With the Kerala defence left exposed, it is the easiest of tap-ins for Yasir, who follows the goal with a stylish celebration. 

KBFC booking: Sandeep sees a yellow card for a late challenge on Odei. 

Goa mounting on the pressure with some one-twos in and around the Kerala box. A second in quick succession would be a big dent in the Blasters camp. 

FCG booking: Seriton Fernandes gets the first booking of the night as he is shown a yellow card.

Borja swings a cross inside the box from a Goa corner. The ball falls to Rowllin Borges, who finds the net with a first-time grounded shot. Karanjit had no chance of saving that. 

Borja swings an excellent cross inside the box from a FC Goa freekick. McHugh looks to creep in and get a header in but Drincic does well to get to the ball and send it out for a corner. 

Yasir cuts in from the right and looks and pulls the trigger but Drincic does well to block the shot. 

The alarm bells have started ringing already. Diamantakos takes a shot on the half-turn from the edge of the Goa box. He catches the shot on target but cannot keep his effort on target. The ball whistles past the post. 

The ISL 10 match between Kerala Blasters and FC Goa is underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. 

Ivan Vukomanovic, Kerala Blasters head coach: “Of course as a coach you are not happy with the goals we have conceded, and also the way we have responded especially during the time that we are losing games.”

Manolo Marquez, FC Goa head coach: “I think it’s a very normal situation. Everyone was expecting that we would win the league five games before the end of the league stages but it’s important to understand that this is a competition with very good teams.”

Played - 19

Kerala Blasters FC - 4

FC Goa - 11

Draws - 4

With many of his key players injured, it would not be a surprise if the Kerala Blasters head coach Ivan Vukomanovic says a small prayer every time one of his players falls down during a game.

The Blasters takes on FC Goa – a side which is one rung above it in the Indian Super League 2023-24 at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. 

More than anything, the talk is around the many injured players in the team, with goalkeeper Sachin Suresh the latest to join the list, which includes one of the team’s star players, Adrian Luna.

‘INJURIES, STORY OF THE SEASON’

“The injuries...actually for us, that’s the story of the season,” said Vukomanovic on Saturday and admitted that this is the most challenging phase of his tenure in Kochi.

“Now, every day it’s like hoping that we don’t lose anybody (with injuries)...and hope the players stay healthy till the end of the season.”

The Blasters, fifth in the league table after losing its last three matches, has to work hard to regain its winning touch.

“We cannot control our opponent, but we have to get back that fighting spirit, fighting for each other and trying to overcome the opponents like we were doing in December,” added the Blasters coach.

When and Where will Kerala Blasters vs FC Goa ISL 10 be played?

The Indian Super League match, Kerala Blasters vs FC Goa, will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Kerala on Sunday, February 24 at 7:30 PM IST. 

Where to watch Kerala Blasters vs FC Goa in ISL 10?

The Indian Super League match between Kerala Blasters and FC Goa will be live telecast on the Sports18 SD and HD channel. It can also be live streamed on JioCinema.