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FC Goa were held to a 2-2 draw by Kerala Blasters at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco tonight. Kerala Blasters started like a freight train, taking a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. FC Goa, though, showed real resolve to bring the game back to 2-2 within the first half and would count themselves unlucky to not have gone back with all three points as a slew of vital decisions went against Derrick Pereira’s men.
Derrick Pereira, in hunt for his first win as FC Goa head coach brought Edu Bedia and Glan Martins back into the starting XI as Alberto Noguera and Princeton Rebello missed out on a starting place.
Kerala Blasters came out the stronger of the two sides and it didn’t take long for them to make a mark in the game. A 10th minute corner by Adrian Luna saw Jeakson Singh attack the near post with vigour before providing a telling flick that gave Dheeraj Singh no chance in the FC Goa goal.
The Kerala Blasters further built on the lead 10 minutes later, this time through a sensational strike by Adrian Luna. The midfielder found space and unleashed a shot from 35 odd yards and made it count – the Uruguayan’s effort swerved and dipped viciously, leaving the diving Dheeraj hapless.
However, just as the game seemed to be slipping away from Derrick Pereira’s men, they responded. Four minutes later, two goals down, the Gaurs scored their first of the game as Jorge Ortiz did brilliantly to swivel on a spot before unleashing a low hard shot that got the better of Prabhsukhan Gill.
The goal was also FC Goa’s 250th of the ISL – the first team to get to the mark.
The Gaurs’ comeback was complete a few minutes later through Edu Bedia’s first of the season. The Spaniard struck directly from the corner, whipping the ball past Gill, who seemed to have misjudged the flight of the ball.
The second half saw FC Goa dominating the proceedings, using the momentum from the comeback to propel them further. However, lady luck didn’t seem to be with the Gaurs on the evening.
The 54th minute of the game saw Seriton Fernandes bomb down the right before pulling it back as he approached the touchline. The right-back’s sudden move caught Jessel Carneiro off guard as the Kerala Blasters skipper’s sliding challenge upended Seriton’s foray into the penalty box. The referee, however, wasn’t convinced.
Three minutes later, the referee was again in the thick of things as he booked Jorge Ortiz for what he deemed to be a dive in the penalty box. The Spaniard had done well to manoeuvre his way into a dangerous position on the left side of the box but found his way to goal obstructed with a tackle on his calf. However, yet again C.R. Srikrishna penalised the Gaurs.
Devendra Murgaokar and Jorge Ortiz found themselves in opportune positions while Edu Bedia struck the crossbar from a free kick but couldn’t find a way to the Kerala goal as the game finished all square.
The result sees FC Goa remain in ninth spot with nine points from as many games. Kerala, meanwhile, stay third with 14 points from their nine games whilst extending their unbeaten run to eight games.
FC Goa will be back in action on January 8 when they take on Chennaiyin FC. That game is scheduled for a 9:30pm kickoff.
