VASCO, Jan 10: Kerala Blasters put up an inspired show to beat Jamshedpur FC 3-2 for their second win of the Indian Super League season here on Sunday.
Kerala Blasters took the lead through Costa Nhamoinesu (22nd) but his goal was neutralised by Nerijus Valskis (36th) before the half-time break. Jordan Murray then scored a brace (79th and 82nd) to hand Kerala three points. Valskis pulled one back for Jamshedpur in the 84th minute.
Jamshedpur started strong and should have bagged the lead as early as the 4th minute after some delightful build-up play. Valskis did well to hold the ball and found Mobashir Rahman, whose cross found Jadhav but the youngster’s effort deflected off the post.
Seven minutes later, Kerala got a gilt-edged opportunity which was the best chance of the opening half. Gary Hooper put Murray through on goal with a decisive pass that split open the Jamshedpur backline. But with only the keeper to beat, the Australian skewed his shot over the bar.
However, Kerala soon made amends for the early miss as they broke the deadlock from a set-piece. Facundo Pereyra swung a delicious cross into the box for Costa, who got ahead of Jamshedpur keeper TP Rehenesh and headed home.
Jamshedpur rallied soon after conceding the lead and would go on to restore parity from a set-piece after Lalruatthara fouled Alexandre Lima in a dangerous area outside the box.
Valskis curled his free-kick over the wall and into the top bottom corner past Kerala custodian Albino Gomes, ending his three-match goalless streak.
Jamshedpur dominated proceedings after the restart, making constant raids into the opposition box but couldn’t find a way.
The best chances fell for Jackichand Singh, who struck the woodwork twice. Kerala were reduced to ten men just after the hour mark after Lalruatthara was shown a second yellow card for a rash tackle.
But despite being a man down, two defensive errors from Jamshedpur helped Kerala gain an advantage. They took the lead from a set-piece.
After Jessel Carneiro’s throw-in was cleared away poorly by Stephen Eze, Pereyra won the ball and tested Rehnesh from close range. The ball fell to Murray on the rebound and he scored a tap-in. A decisive blunder from Rehenesh three minutes later allowed Murray to score again, seeing the shoulders drop in the Jamshedpur dugout.
Valskis got on the scoresheet again to revive Jamshedpur’s hopes of a comeback. The striker buried his header into the net from Mobashir’s cross to cut short his side’s deficit. But in the end, his goal came a little too late as Kerala went home with the three points. (PTI)
