Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
After scoring the first goal and taking the lead within six minutes to the game, Kerala Blasters went down by a 2-5 scoreline against ATK Mohun Bagan on Sunday night.
ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando opted for a 3-4-3 against the 4-4-2 formation from Kerala Blasters tactician Ivan Vukomanović. The men in yellow opted to start with the star performer from last match, Ivan Kalyuzhnyi with Apostolos Giannou on the bench.
With the loyal fans painting Kochi in yellow again, Kerala Blasters stormed the ATK Mohun Bagan FC goalline from the very first second of the game. And this resulted in a goal within six minutes on clock. After successfully winning the ball from Ashique Kuruniyan, Dimitrios Diamantakos guided it to Ivan Kalyuzhnyi who had a one two pass with Şahal Abdul Samad inside the penalty box and fount bottom of the net. With a one goal lead on the score board, the Blasters kept testing the ATK Mohun Bagan FC defence. Keeping ATK Mohun Bagan custodian Vishal Kaith busy and Ashique Kuruniyan in his new left back role struggling to mark Sahal Abdul Samad, the Blasters took the visitors out of game for the first 25 minutes.
When it looked like the score card is going to remain same till the half time, ATK Mohun Bagan scored the equilizer in the 26th minute of the game. A quick counter-attack against the flow of the game got them the equalizer they needed. Hugo Boumous rushed to the penalty box and passed the ball to Dimitri Petratos through a re-organizing Kerala Blasters defence. The experienced Australian made no mistake in guiding it to the net when the clock had 19 minutes more for the half time.
With both teams fighting toe to toe for the next goal and defenders tested on both ends, Manvir Singh slipping the ball through the Kerala Blasters defence to find Joni Kauko on 38th minute made the score board tick again. This time for visitors which resulted in them taking the lead. Score board remained 1-2 in favour of the visitors when the half time whistle was blown.
Subhasish Bose replaced Ashique Kuruniyan for ATK Mohun Bagan soon after the half time. An experienced defender in back line gave the visitors more confidence in attack which resulted in a second goal from Dimitri Petratos in the 62nd minute which increased their lead. From a pinpoint pass from Liston Colaco inside the penalty box, the Australian who managed to slip through the Blasters defence line found the target at ease. With the men in yellow down by two goals, Coach Ivan brought in fresh legs with a double replacement in the 65th minute. When the Kerala Blasters went with Rahul KP replacing Sahal Abdul Samad and Nishu Kumar replacing Harmanjot Singh Khabra, ATK Mohun Bagan replaced Deepak Tangri with Lenny Rodrigues. Trying to get the game back from visitors, the Blasters replaced Ivan Kalyuzhnyi with Apostolos Giannou in the 69th minute. This was countered by Florentin Pogba replacing Hugo Boumous for ATK Mohun Bagan in the 71st minute.
An individual brilliance with a blistering run and a powerful shot from Rahul KP slipped through the hands of Vishal Kaith made the score board ticking in favour of the Kerala Blasters. With 3-2 score line and continuous shots on target made it look like the ‘Men in Yellow’ are all set for a comeback. But, soon after Lalrinliana Hnamte replying Manvir Singh on the 86th minute, visitors increased their lead through Lenny Rodrigues.
Game progressing into the 2nd minute of tadded time, another assist from Liston got Dimitri Petratos registering the first hattrick in ISL-9. With 5 goals against 2, the scoreboard remained in favour of the visitors.
Not a result which Kerala Blasters played for and not a result their fans wanted.
