FC Goa extended their lead at the top of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) table with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday. Two goals from top-scorer Ferran Corominas and a goal for Manvir Singh sealed the tie for the Gaurs. Nikola Krcmarevic knocked in a consolation goal for the Blasters in stoppage time.

At the post-match press conference, Goa head coach Sergio Lobera shared his thoughts on his team’s performance on the night and said, "I’m very happy with the performance. We deserved it completely. But yes, I think we would have liked to have a clean sheet as well. I would have liked us to score more goals as we created a lot of clear opportunities which we failed to take. I thought the team defended extremely well. In the second half, they found it very difficult to find spaces in our half."

When asked about his star man Coro’s contribution, Lobera attributed it to his sheer quality and also the support he receives from his teammates. "He is very good. And the team he has behind him allows him to shine the way he does. It’s a combination of both. The quality that he has serves very well for us," the Spaniard opined.

With the league taking a 10-day international break, the Spaniard admitted that he was pleased with the brief time-out after a quick run of games over the week. "In the recent past, we have had to play games back to back and quite close to each other and I think the break comes at a good time for us. Right now, we have a good phase of form, but we have an obligation to try and maintain that," he said.

From Kerala’s end, head coach David James was present to answer the media reporters’ questions.  The Englishman cut a frustrated figure, admitting that his side took the cost of a sub-par performance against one of the best teams in the league. "We have lost to the two of the best teams in the Hero ISL now (Bengaluru and FC Goa), so in some ways, it is a little bit easier to take. I felt that in the first-half we weren’t quite up to the pace. Goa are a very good side and when you give them an early lead, you know it is going to be a tough battle. Second-half, we were better in parts. It is just frustrating because when you play the best sides you need to be at your best and we were short of that today," he stated.

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