ISL: Corominas hat-trick stuns Blasters

A quick-fire hat-trick from Ferran Corominas, his second in as many games, powered FC Goa to a 5-2 thrashing of Kerala Blasters at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday.

Ferran Corominas was the star of the night with a brilliant hat-trick in all of seven minutes as FC Goa defeated Kerala Blasters 5-2.

Ferran Corominas fired a second hat-trick in as many games as FC Goa thrashed Kerala Blasters 5-2 in their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday. With the win, Goa now joins Bengaluru FC at the top of the ISL table.

Blasters' Mark Sifneos opened the scoring on the night but Corominas’ quick-fire hat-trick in a matter of seven minutes in the second half completely took the tie away from the visiting side. Manuel Lanzarote also continued his good form for Goa by scoring two goals, while Jackichand Singh was the other Kerala player to get on the scoresheet.

MATCH CENTRE

The visitor had an unfortunate start to the game as its marquee player Dimitar Berbatov had to be taken off due injury in the fourth minute of the game. The change did not seem to affect the side as Sifneos opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Jackichand's pinpoint cross into the box from the right wing found Sifneos, who slotted it past Laxmikant Kattimani into the goal.

However, Lanzarote levelled the score for Goa with a side-footed volley two within a mere two minutes. The Spanish import then went on to score again in the 18th minute to give his side an early lead.

Goa, however, couldn't hold on to the lead for long and Jackichand equalised for Kerala at the half-hour mark after some one-touch play on the edge of the box between him and Milan Singh opened up Goa's defence. The sides went into half-time with the scoreline reading 2-2.

The second half was all about Corominas. Having scored a hat-trick in the previous game, the Spaniard followed it up with another brilliant hat-trick. Just three minutes after the re-start, Ahmed Jahouh’s through ball put Corominas clear on goal, who slid past Rachubka to restore Goa's lead.

Two minutes later, Kerala's defence was opened up yet again and this time it was Pekuson who put the ball through for Corominas to coolly chip it over the 'keeper to double the lead.

Kerala looked shell-shocked and its defence was breached again in the 55th minute. Lanzarote’s low cross from the right was turned in by Corominaswho duly completed his hat-trick.   

While the Blasters did try to stage a comeback, it simply couldn't find the back of the net and Goa clinched all three poins.