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The game saw South United FC create number of good chances but Kerala Blasters Reserves’ ruthlessness in front of goal proved too much for the home side.
The tie took some time to settle down and fall into a pattern where South United FC saw themselves dominate early proceedings. They created a few openings but nothing that tested the keeper yet.
About 15 minutes into the game, Kerala Blasters Reserves turned the tide and started to threaten, creating one good opportunity after another. Their good spell saw them go in front through Mohammed Esha whose header from a corner beat the keeper all ends up.
The goal saw Kerala Blasters Reserves grow as an attacking force as they continued to push forward, however, towards the end of the half, South United FC found themselves on the upswing creating a few half chances but without any real penetration.
Poor passing from South United FC saw a lot of their good work undone. Kerala Blasters Reserves’s second goal perplexed the South United FC defence as a simple ball over the top beat their offside trap and Nongdamba Naorem latched onto it, beat South United FC custodian Royal and slotted the ball into the unguarded net.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, South United pressed high at the start of the second half making it difficult for Kerala Blasters Reserves to get out of the back. This spell saw them peg Kerala Blasters Reserves back in their own half for a long period, eventually winning a freekick when Sudipta was fouled in a dangerous area.
Magesh’s low hard free-kick was parried by the Kerala Blasters Reserves custodian but the ball landed at Amit’s feet and he makes no mistake smashing the ball into the net to bring his side back into the game.
Kerala Blasters Reserves realised that the next few minutes would be crucial which saw them fly forward, but South United FC responded with their own attacks to keep Kerala Blasters Reserves on alert. South United FC created at least three good chances in a row that went painfully close or were blocked just in time by Kerala Blasters Reserves defenders.
Kerala Blasters Reserves were booting the ball up the pitch towards the end of the game and South United FC built each attack from the back, on one such occasion Kishan’s attempted pass was intercepted by substitute Pragyan Gogoi, who took advantage of the space he was given to let fly from range and his left foot screamer beat Royal to make the score 3-1 in favour of Kerala Blasters Reserves.
