ISL 2021-22, Kerala Blasters FC vs Jamshedpur FC Highlights: Both teams share spoils after 1-1 draw

ISL 2021-22, JFC vs KBFC Score: Get the Indian super league updates between Jamshedpur FC and Kerala Blasters FC from Tilak Maidan.

KBFC's Sahal celebrates after scoring his team's equaliser against JFC.

Welcome to Sportstar's highlights of this evening's Kerala Blasters FC vs Jamshedpur FC  Indian Super League (ISL 2021-22) played at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa. This was Aneesh Dey bringing you all the pre-match buildup and live updates from the match.

That's all for today. Thanks for tuning in. We will meet you tomorrow when NorthEast United FC takes on Mumbai City FC at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. Goodnight and take care.

Read match report

Post-match comments!!

Ivan Vukomanovic (Kerala Blasters head coach): "We are at the end of a very exhausting week where we have played three matches. We knew tonight it would be a tough game physically, with lots of tough duels. We knew because we played Jamshedpur twice in the pre-season. In the end, from our perspective, we have to be content because we are not seven games without defeat. We know there is great room for improvement and we are proud of the way the team is playing." (On why Luna was subbed off : "Yes, he told me there is a little niggle but hopefully it is nothing serious and he will be back for the next match." ) Owen Coyle (Jamshedpur FC head coach): "Our quality was good tonight against a tough team. It is another point and another unbeaten match. We are moving in the right direction. I have no fear playing young Indian players. I am delighted with the shift my players are putting in like Komal (Thatal), Riktwik (Das) and Boris (Singh) and one of my main aim is improving them as players." Sahal Abdul Samad (Kerala Blasters forward):  "It is always good to come back into the game. We fought well after conceding the goal. As a team, we should never be satisfied with a point and should always look for a win. But I am happy with the way we played as a team after going down in the match." Greg Stewart (Hero of the Match):  "In hindsight, a draw was maybe a fair result for tonight. We got ourselves in good positions but could not take our chances so we will take this point. We have only lost one game this season. We have one week to rest and hopefully come back with a fully fit squad against Chennaiyin."

No goals in the second half as both teams secure a point each after playing a 1-1 draw at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.

Both teams had chances to take the lead in the second half. Alvaro Vazquez, in the 50th-minute, tried to dink the ball over Rehenesh but saw his effort come back off the post.

Ishan Pandita had a chance to put his team ahead late in the second half at the 84th-minute but his shot was saved well by Gill.

Jamshedpur and Kerala stay on second and third respectively after this draw.

Full-time (Kerala Blasters 1-1 Jamshedpur FC)!!

90+4' JFC Sub- Mobashir Rahman replaces Boris.

90+4' Stewart curls a good shot into the box but it is straight into the hands of Gill. The referee utlimately blows his whistle for a JFC offside.

90+3' Booking- KBFC's Vazquez sees yellow.

90+2' Leskovic brings down Murray on the right flank and it is a JFC freekick. A good chance for Owen Coyle's men to snatch the win in the end.

Four additional minutes!!

88' Vincy shows good strength to get past Laldinliana and send a cross to the centre of the box. Hartley's touch sends the ball up. Rehenesh and Vazquez goes for the ball and the keeper comes off better in the battle.

86' KBFC Subs- Enes Sipovic and Prasanth Karuthadathkuni come in for Ruivah and Diaz.

84' Save- A great chance for JFC on the counter. Laldinliana plays a wonderful through-ball to Pandita. Pandita takes his time and takes his shot but Gill makes a brilliant save.

83' The tempo of the match has has certainly dipped over the course of the second half. Players seem to be out of steam.

79' JFC Sub- Ishan Pandita comes on for Ritkwik.

79' Shot- Murray takes a  turn and goes for goal from a long way out. His effort is nowhere near the target.

Match resumes!!

Drinks break!!

73' Jitendra tries to get past Jessel on the left flank in order to send a cross at the centre but the KBFC skipper does well to prevent the cross.

72' KBFC Subs- Vincy Barretto and Ayush Adhikari replace Sahal and Puitea.

68' Shot- Jitendra shoots from distance on the volley. The shot has a bit of spin to it but Gill collects the ball fairly easily.

64' Khabra sends a ball in the box from the right but it is overcooked. Goalkick to Jamshedpur FC.

61' KBFC Sub- Seityasen Singh replaces Luna.

60' Vazquez goes for a pop again from miles out hoping to catch the goalkeeper out. But this one is not as close as his last effort.

56' Stewart's attempted cross is blocked by Jeakson. Jamshedpur players with a penalty-shout but referee waves it away. Replay shows that Jeakson's arm was not in an unnatural position.

55' Block- A training ground freekick routine by KBFC- Luna passes to Sipovic who cushions the ball for Vazquez. The Spaniard goes for goal from distance but his shot is blocked.

53' Diaz tries to cross the ball with the outside of his boot from the left flank but it is blocked well.

50' Chance- Peter Hartley with a rare bit of poor defending as he passes straight to Vazquez. The Spaniard sees Rehenesh off his line and tries to dink the ball over the goalkeeper but his effort clips the crossbar and come back into play.

48' Booking- Greg Stewart sees yellow for his high boot on Khabra.

47' Murray tries to find Boris on the left flank but his pass is intercepted by Gill.

46' No half-time changes to report!!

We are back for the second-half!!

The first half has flown by as goals by Stewart and Sahal keep the scores level at 1-1 at half-time.

JFC was the first team to take the lead after Greg Stewart's sumptuous goal from a freekick in the 14th-minute. However, Kerala kept fighting and its efforts bore fruit when Sahal, after some wonderful work by Vazquez, scored off the latter's rebound to level the score.

Stay tuned!! Live-action coming up from the second half after a short break.

Half-time (Kerala Blasters FC 1-1 Jamshedpur FC)!!

Two additional minutes!!

44' It is offside against Kerala and JFC breathes a sign of relief.

43' A period of pressure by Kerala in its attacking final-third as JFC cannot clears it lines.

41' This time the wall does its job as Stewart's shot is blocked well and Kerala clears its lines.

40' Puitea fouls Lima and it is a Jamshedpur freekick in a dangerous position. We have already seen a wonderful goal by Stewart from a freekick today.

36' A penalty shout by the Kerala players as Boris Singh seemed to have blocked Vazquez's cross from the left with his hand. Replay shows that he did but referee does not consult his assistant and gives just a corner.

Match resumes!!

Drinks break!!

29' The match is wonderfully poised after Sahal's equaliser. It is anyone's match right now.

27' GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Vasquez makes a wonderful run, dribbles across the JFC defence and shoots, but Rehenesh saves, which falls for Sahal and he makes it all square for Kerala Blasters with a sublime finish

19; Booking- KBFC's Jorge Diaz sees yellow for his tussle with Peter Hartley.

JFC 1-1 KBFC

14' GOOOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!! Stewart takes a curler with his left foot and it finds the right top corner to give an early lead to Jamshedpur FC. What a well taken freekick.

Jamshedpur FC 1-0 Kerala Blasters

8' Sahal and Vasquez pair up along the right, but fail to create any danger and Stewart makes a run on the right side of the other box and finally the ball goes out for a goal kick

6' Chance! Boris and Greg Stewart march ahead and Boris' pass to Stewart and Greg shoots without much force and the KBFC keeper has the ball in control

4' Peter Hartley goes down in the box, but the referee is not interested to give away a free kick and the match shifts to the other end

7:30 PM: Kick Off!

ISL Match Recap between Odisha FC and FC Goa

7:17 PM- What are the coaches saying?

Ivan Vukomanovic on facing Jamshedpur FC twice in pre-season friendlies and the gameplan for this match: "Yes, of course. Because it was the period of the pre-season and they are completely different games now, almost in the middle of ISL both teams are playing a bit differently. Both teams are playing with a different approach and a different mentality. Tomorrow I suppose that it should be a very hard, physical game, tough with lots of runnings and so we'll see tomorrow. Let the better team win." Owen Coyle on the players to look our for in the Kerala team:  "They have wonderful foreigners, their offensive players. Vazquez and the strikers played at a very high level, Diaz is a very good player, Luna, very clever, they've all played at a very high level and young Sahal Samad is an offensive player who is pleasing on the eye, quick and can score a goal, can create a goal. They've got dangerous players and they're a dangerous team and that's the thing, it's not about the individuals alone but they work very hard as a team and they will be very dangerous opponents, tough opponents. It's a game that we're looking forward to, giving utmost respect."

7:00 PM- Key player for both teams!!

Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC): The 29-year-old has been instrumental for the club in the middle of the park. Luna has one goal and three assists in the season so far.

Greg Stewart (Jamshedpur FC): Stewart scored the first hattrick of the season that came against Odisha FC. He has four goals and as many assists till now in this season's ISL.

6:45 PM- Form guide of both teams!!

Kerala Blasters FC: Kerala Blasters FC has three wins and two draws in its last five matches while it remains unbeaten in its last six matches.

Jamshedpur FC: Jamshedpur FC has racked up eight points in its last five matches. It has won two, drawn two and lost one.

6:36 PM- Official lineups are out!!

Kerala Blasters FC: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Ruivah Hormipam, Marko Leskovic, Jessel Carneiro (C), Harmanjot Khabra, Sahal Samad, Jeakson Singh, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Adrian Luna, Alvaro Vazquez and Jorge Diaz.

Subs: Sachin (Gk); Sipovic, Sandeep, Nishu, Meitei; Ayush, Seityasen, Prasanth, Vincy.

Coach: Ivan Vukomanovic

Jamshedpur FC: TP Rehenesh (GK), Laldinliana Renthlei, Narender Gahlot, Peter Hartley (C), Ricky Lallawmawma, Ritwik Das, Jitendra Singh, Alexandre Lima, Boris Singh, Greg Stewart and Jordan Murray.

Subs: Pawan (GK), Vishal (Gk); Laldinpuia, Sabia, Sandip, Karan, Anas, Mobashir, Ishan.

Coach: Owen Coyle

6:15 PM-  Here's what happened when both teams met the last time!!

 

6:00 PM- Here's how we think the two sides could line up today!!

Jamshedpur FC Predicted XI: TP Rehenesh (GK), Laldinliana Renthlei, Eli Sabia, Peter Hartley (C), Ricky Lallawmawma, Jitendra Singh, Alexandre Lima, Seiminlen Doungel, Boris Singh, Greg Stewart, Ishan Pandita.

Kerala Blasters Predicted XI: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Ruivah Hormipam, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Harmanjot Khabra, Jessel Carneiro (C), Sahal Samad, Adrian Luna, Jeakson Singh, Jorge Diaz, Marko Leskovic and Alvaro Vazquez.

5:45 PM- Teams news and Injury updates ahead of the match!!

Kerala Blasters FC:  Head coach Ivan Vukomanovic informed the media that all the players are available for selection.

Jamshedpur FC: Head Owen Coyle revealed that Pronay Halder, Nerijus Valskis, and Komal Thatal have injury concerns.

MATCH PREVIEW: ISL 2021-22: Kerala Blasters faces stern test against Jamshedpur FC

Kerala Blasters  will look to remain unscathed and continue its invincible run when it takes on an in-form  Jamshedpur FC  in the Hero  Indian Super League  on Sunday.

Kerala has been unbeaten in six games while Jamshedpur hasn't lost its last two.

Jamshedpur shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw against Bengaluru FC in their previous engagement but the Men of Steel have been prolific in front of goal with Greg Stewart being at the heart of their success.

Kerala has been spectacular so far, putting behind disappointments of previous years with a collection of players who have dazzled, especially in front of the goal. It won 3-0 against Chennaiyin FC in its last game, making light of an obdurate Chennaiyin defence.

Among the players who have risen to the occasion for Kerala is Sahal Abdul Samad, who has been brilliant, scoring in back-to-back games.

Prior to the start of the 2021-22 Hero ISL, the youngster had just one goal to his name. But in seven games this season, he has managed to score thrice, including one each in the last two games.

RELATED|  ISL 2021-22 Points Table

His defensive game has also been encouraging this season. He has 13 successful tackles, the second-highest among Kerala players after Adrian Luna (15). Sahal's 11 blocks this season is bettered only by Marko Leskovic's 14 among Kerala players.

Luna has been the creative spark in Kerala's attacking arsenal. He has three assists in the league until now, only Ahmed Jahouh (5), Roy Krishna (4) and Greg Stewart (4) have more.

His passing, vision, and ability to pick out players perfectly is one of the reasons why Kerala look so comfortable in creating chances in open play.

"We have been consistent and the players are working hard. That's how you get better in football," said Kerala head coach Ivan Vukomanovic.

"Our goal this season is to work hard. We finished second from bottom last season, so we need to keep working hard and build on the momentum. In football, it's about momentum and playing game by game." Kerala have scored 12 goals in their first seven games, including an own goal in the game against Bengaluru FC.

For the first time in its ISL history, the club has scored more than 10 goals after seven opening league games and that is a testament to its teamwork.

RELATED: Ivan Vukomanovic: 'India should focus on youth development'

For Kerala, nine different players have had a goal or an assist this season. Only Jamshedpur FC (11) and Hyderabad FC (10) have more players contributing to a goal or an assist.

Jamshedpur, meanwhile, is sitting third in the table and has the same number of points as Kerala (12). A win will take either team level on points with leader Mumbai City FC which has a game in hand.

"I'm excited about every game, especially when you are playing a good team like Kerala Blasters. They have an outstanding coach, somebody, apart from his footballing qualities is a nice man," said Jamshedpur coach  Owen Coyle.

"I think I have mentioned before, they have wonderful foreigners. They have all played at a very high level. They have got dangerous Indians as well and they are dangerous as a team."

"They work very hard not just individually but as a team. But it's a team we are looking forward to playing."

Where to watch?

You can watch the Kerala Blasters FC vs Jamshedpur FC match live at 7:30 PM on the Star Network (SD and HD). It will also be streamed live on Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.