KOCHI: Stamping their authority, visitors Melbourne City wrapped up the challenge of hosts Kerala Blaster with ease, pumping in six goal in the La Liga World Tournament opener at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here on Tuesday night.
In a one-sided affair, the winners led by two goal in the first half through Dario Vidosic (30th) and Riely McGree (33rd).The other goals in the second half scored by Lachalan Wales (50th), Riely McGree (56th), Ramy Najjarine (75th) and Bruno Fornaroli (79th). Kerala Blasters will take Girona FC on July 28 and Melourne City on July 27.
The Melbourne city dominated all the 90-minute game, without giving any room for the home team to threaten the rival defence. David James kept his word and offered Dheeraj Singh his much-awaited debut in yellow colours.
Blasters’ 4-4-1-1 had Anas Edathodika and Nemanja Lakic-Pesic paired up in defence with Cyril Kali and Sandesh Jhingan acting as full-backs. New signings Halicharan Narzary and youngster Prasanth Karuthadathkuni flanked a central midfield pairing of Seiminlen Doungel and Keziron Kizito. New foreign recruits Slavisa Stojanovic and Matej Poplatnik headed the attack with the Serbian dropping deep regularly to aid the midfield.
The City Blues looked composed on the ball and made full use of the flanks to test the opposition’s full-backs. The alarm bells rang for both sides in the first ten minutes with Cyril Kali heading over from a corner and Michael O Halloran skipping past Sandesh Jhingan only to have his shot parried away by the goalkeeper.
A clever assist and poor marking at the half-hour mark resulted in Melbourne City’s first goal of the night. Nathaniel Atkinson skipped past the Blasters crowd in front of the box and pulled a pass back to Luke Brattan.
The on-loan Manchester City midfielder lobbed the ball into the box where an unmarked Dario Vidosic sneaked a well-timed header into the bottom right corner of the net.
Kerala team found wandering here and there to find a worthfull move, and all their efforts were melted before the mighty Melbourne team. As expected, the winners found the target in the 40th minute through Dario Vidosic.
Dario, beating the offside trap, heads it into the far corner. Atkinson beat three men in the middle to chip it back to Brattan, who lobbed in over the defence. Dario turned out to be the fox in the box as the Assie side take vital lead. (1-0). Three minutes later, Riley make it two. Absolutely no one guarding Caceres who comes off with a brilliant one-two; he plays it forward to McGree, on-loan from Club Brugge. Poplatnik takes a tumble but McGree swivels around, beats Jhingan and drives in a left-footer past a hapless Dheeraj but not before a minor deflection off the Blasters’ skipper. (0-2).
After lemon break, despite the drizzling, the winners continued their onslaught and pumped in four more goal to stamp their victory. It could’ve been 7-0 if the shot from Connor Metcalfe would not have met the far upright woodwork in the 82nd minute. “It is definitely disappointing to start the campaign on a losing note. It wasn’t going to be easy against a quality opposition like Melbourne City Fc but I am happy the team did not show any signs of complacency till the last minute,” said Kerala Blasters head coach, David James.
“It is very easy to loose hope once you are 6-0 down by the 79th minute, but fighting till the last minute and giving it your best is what characterizes the team.” (Agencies)
