ISL 2019-20 highlights: Gyan's penalty earns NEUFC 1-1 draw against Blasters

Catch the highlights of the Indian Super League match between Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Updated : Dec 28, 2019 21:36 IST

NorthEast United's captain Asamoah Gyan (Left) reacts after Kerala is awarded a penalty in the final minutes of the first half.
NorthEast United's captain Asamoah Gyan (Left) reacts after Kerala is awarded a penalty in the final minutes of the first half.
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NorthEast United's captain Asamoah Gyan (Left) reacts after Kerala is awarded a penalty in the final minutes of the first half.

 

FULL-TIME: KERALA BLASTERS 1-1 NORTHEAST UNITED

90+5' Close! A pin-point cross from Gning reaches Ogbeche at the far post who pulls the trigger. Heerings puts in a great block to thwart the attempt. Kerala is unable to get anything out of the final corner of the match as the referee brings the match to an end.

90+3' Subhasish scrambles to keep the ball in play after a slice from Komorski. Heerings does well to stop Messi Bouli in his tracks on the right.

90+1' Milan Singh gets to the byline and crosses into the centre but Gning makes a headed clearance to avert the danger.

89' After an extended argument about the NorthEast wall, Arques lays the ball for Jessel to have a go at the far corner but Subhasish gets a good hand to parry the shot away.

87' NorthEast fails to make the most of the corner kick given away easily by Jessel. The referee warns Heerings after he tackles Ogbeche just outside the penalty area. It is the perfect opportunity for Kerala to snatch back the lead.

85' Chaves hunts a long ball from behind and lifts it over the defence for Diego in the centre but Drobrarov clears the ball.

83' The game falls into a lull as Kerala knocks the ball around waiting for Arques to be back on the pitch. NorthEast makes its third change as Redeem is taken off for Ninthoi.

80' Diego tries to find Milan Singh on the right but his cross had too much power behind it and falls away for a Kerala goal kick. Now Arques and Rahul get treatment for what looks like cramps. The home team continues to play on with nine men.

77' Rahul loses the ball on the left as Redeem tries to put the ball into the box but loses out to Jessel.

75' The humidity seems to be getting the better of the players as Rakesh Pradhan gets treatment for cramps. Jarni takes the break to send in Federico Gallego to replace Triadis.

72' Kerala has been able to reach the final third but has been unable to find spaces inside the penalty area. Puitea is taken off by NorthEast coach Robert Jarni as he sends in Milan Singh.

69' Dreadful passing at the back by Kerala gifts away a throw in for NorthEast as Triadis is flagged offside after making the run to reach Redeem's cross.

66' Triadis gets back the ball from the back after wasting a chance from the corner. The midfielder plays one-two with Rakesh and pulls the trigger which bounces off the yellow wall in the box.

64' Triadis makes a sensational solo run on the left side and gets close to the goal, but Rakip puts in a clean tackle to diffuse the danger.

62' Jessel clears a dangerous cross from Rakesh as NorthEast wastes the opportunity from the corner. Apuia is booked for a clumsy challenge on Ogbeche who was motoring away towards the goal.

60' Close! Ogbeche takes the ball wide on the edge of the box and crosses it towards the far post with Messi Bouli lurking, but Komorski outjumps the forward to clear the danger just in time.

58' WIDE! Gyan drops deep and plays a killer through ball to put Redeem through. However, the winger wastes the golden opportunity by dragging his shot wide off the far post.

56' Arques wins a free kick on the right and curls a ball at the far post where Messi Bouli jumps high to get a head to it but is unable to generate enough power to trouble Subhasish.

54' Ogbeche and Messi Bouli exchange passes inside the box as the latter flashes the ball across the goal mouth but Subhasish is up to the task and plucks the ball midway through.

50' GYAN WITH THE EQUALISER! Asamoah Gyan stands over the spot kick and smashes it into the top corner. It would be interesting to see what Eelco Schattorie will have to say about the referee's decision.

48' PENALTY TO NORTHEAST! Rakesh Pradhan's crosses into the box which is cut out by Seityasen which comes off his head but the referee points to the spot.

47' Messi Bouli gets into the act quickly as he wins the ball in the middle and plays it to Prasanth who hits the ball blindly over the goal post.

46' Here we go! Second half begins!

HALF-TIME: KERALA BLASTERS 1-0 NORTHEAST UNITED

45+4' Arques is clipped by Lalengmawia but the referee remains unmoved as the half-time whistle is blown. Schattorie is involved in a long discussion with the fourth official on the sidelines.

45+2' Raju Gaikwad goes into the referee's book as NorthEast players look irritated by Kerala players' antics. The full back does not look comfortable in the middle and is substituted by Jeakson Singh.

43' GOAL KERALA! Ogbeche places his spot kick into the right bottom corner to send Kochi into raptures. Subasish kicks the post in furstration.

41' PENALTY! Subasish and Ogbeche clash on the edge of the box after Arques floats the ball from behind. The goalkeeper is fuming after the referee books him for the foul.

39' Substitution! Sahal is taken off the pitch and Messi Bouli is sent in. The youngster's work rate has been pedestrian at best and Schattorie makes it clear to him.

38' Seityasen is shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Triadis who hits a wayward ball into the box which is easily collected by Rehenesh.

36' Off-side! Redeem plays a brilliant pass to hit Gyan through to the goal who applies a neat finish past Rehenesh. However, the linesman has his flag by the time.

34' Arques takes the resultant free kick and swings it straight at Subhasish who palms it away easily. Gning does well to get in between the NorthEast centre-backs and heads the resultant corner just wide off the post.

32' The home side has gathered some steam going forwards which has fired up Schattorie who comes off the bench demanding more from his players. Ogbeche goes down on the edge of the box after a clumsy challenge from Heerings.

30' Blasters win a free kick after Khawlhring catches Sahal on the thigh but the delivery from Arques is not up to the mark as NorthEast defence clears it easily.

28' Kerala's energy in the final third resembles an ember waiting to be put off. Sahal, who has been preferred over Messi Bouli, has been trudging along and often thrown himself into unnecessary tackles.

26' Reang Singh wins the ball on the right and lays it off for Redeem who curls a dangerous ball into the box which is too easy for Rehenesh.

23' Eelco Schattorie, who is back on the touchline after serving a one-match suspension, has been a calm figure just sitting on the bench and making notes. Someone on the pitch needs to mirror their coach's demeanour.

21' Good interplay on the left between Seityasen and Gning puts the latter into the box who crosses it towards the centre. However, the cross was too heavy for Ogbeche to reach.

20' Miss! Rakip gives away the ball in the centre as Gyan is put through to the goal who makes a mess of his shot by smashing it over the crossbar.

19' Ogbeche tries to play a through ball as Sahal makes a diagonal run into the box and misses the ball completely.

17' Gyan wins the ball in the midfield and plays it to Redeem who relays it to the Ghanian in the centre. However, Gyan brings down the ball sloppily and is rightly flagged for a handball.

15' Gning tries to find Ogbeche in the centre with a cross which has too much weight on it. NorthEast tries to counter but Gyan's wayward pass is too far for Chaves to chase.

13' Sahal gives away the ball cheaply in the midfield as Lalengmawia lobs the ball for Redeem to chase. The forward doesn't reach the ball and goes for a daring lob which was tame. No danger for T.P. Rehenesh.

11' CLOSE! Triadis wins a free kick on the right and whips in a delightful ball into the box for Asamoah Gyan to flash his header agonisingly wide off the near post.

9' The resulting corner is taken by Arques who curls it dangerously low as Subasish has no option but to punch it away to safety. Luckily for the keeper, the balls takes a touch off a Kerala shirt and NorthEast gets a goal kick.

8' Shot! A loose clearance from Komorski falls for Prasanth just outside the NorthEast box who quickly gets rid of the ball drawing a good save from Subhasish.

6' Rakip gets into the final third and curls a pass for Prasanth to run behind the defenders. Subhasish reads the situation and rushes off his line to collect the ball safely.

4' Rakip does well to win the ball on the right and hits a long ball towards Ogbeche but Komorski reaches for it and plays it forward. Kerala has been patient in the build up while NorthEast has been happy to sit back.

2' Seityasen Singh intercepts Martin Chaves' hit from the back but the ball falls far away from him and Subhasish Roy mops it up quickly.

1' Here we go! Kerala begins the match from right to left. Raju Gaikwad hits a diagonal ball trying to find Ogbeche in the centre but Heerings Kai heads the ball away to safety.

A little bit of history: Kerala, winless in the past eight matches, comes into the game after a demoralising 3-1 defeat to Chennayin FC. The history is on the side of the men in yellow who have never lost a home match to NorthEast United. However, their home record has been dreadful as they won just two of the past 14 home games.

The players are out on the pitch for the Indian national anthem. Just five more minutes to kick off...

What's at stake:

NorthEast United will look to bounce back from back-to-back defeats and will look pip Odisha FC at sixth with a win. Kerala, currently placed ninth, will look to take NorthEast's seventh place in the table by winning the match with a two-goal difference. A draw is beneficial for neither of the teams as they will stay put in their respective places.

Starting XIs

 

Our correspondent Stan Rayan preview Saturday's game in Kochi

When Eelco Schattorie leads the Kerala Blasters FC against NorthEast United in the Indian Super League at the Nehru Stadium here on Saturday, the Dutchman is sure to experience a wonderful flow of positive energy.

For Schattorie had stunningly guided the NorthEast to the ISL playoffs last season. “I can't deny that when you play against your old club, there will be certain dynamics. But I am only focusing on our team at the moment to try to get a result and try to bounce back from the last game (where it lost 1-3 to Chennaiyin),” the Blasters head coach said on Friday.

The Kochi side has not tasted victory in its last eight matches, and is now struggling in the ninth spot in the 10-team league at the halfway mark. Schattorie, however, still believes that a top-four finish is possible.

“I believe top-four is possible. We still need to play ATK, Goa. BFC (Bengaluru FC), etc. If we win all those games, it is possible. I really believe that if we are a bit lucky and if we get into a flow, then we will get there.”

Saturday's game will offer the Blasters a big chance to head in that direction. “NorthEast lost its last two games, hopefully that is an advantage for us, and we are playing at home,” said Schattorie.

But the big hurdle for Blasters could be Ghananian striker Asamoah Gyan, who is expected to return on Saturday after an injury-break.

The match will streaming live on Hotstar and Star Sports network from 7.30 pm onwards.

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