FC Goa beat Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday. Goa opened the scoring through Ferran Corominas before CK Vineeth found the back of the net for Kerala in the first half. However, Edu Bedia headed the winner for the Gaurs in the 77^th minute to give Goa the win.

Kerala started on the front foot in search of an early lead, but it was Goa who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening exchanges after Manuel Lanzarote tried his luck from distance and was denied only by the crossbar.

Having said that, the visitors didn’t have to wait too long to go in front after Mandar Rao Dessai and Corominas combined to devastating effect in the 7^th minute. Dessai received the ball on the left after making an intelligent run and found Corominas with a perfect cutback for the Spaniard to pick his spot and make it 1-0 in favour of Goa.

The game settled down after the Gaurs went in front with Kerala finding it increasingly difficult to string together passes. The Blasters went close to equalising in the 25^th minute but Siam Hanghal’s shot from range ended up shaving the top of the crossbar and going behind for a goal-kick.

The men in yellow did restore parity four minutes later though, thanks to Vineeth, who found himself with acres of space to run into after collecting Hanghal’s flick on. The Kerala winger composed himself before calmly slotting the ball home to make it all square.

The last chance of the half went to the hosts after they were awarded a freekick in a dangerous area. Iain Hume decided to take the freekick and kept his effort on target but Goa custodian Laxmikant Kattimani got behind the ball to make an easy save and ensure that his sides went into the break level-pegging.

Vineeth had Kerala’s first attempt of the half on target seven minutes into the second period when he produced an exquisite turn before unleashing a venomous strike with his weaker left from outside the box straight at the goalkeeper.

Neither side managed to get into their fluent best in the second half but Goa managed to re-establish their lead 13 minutes from full-time. Brandon Fernandes whipped in a brilliant corner to the near post for Bedia to attack and head into the far corner.

Kerala pushed on in search of a late leveller but Goa sat deep and absorbed the pressure. Hanghal had the Blasters’ last shot of the game in injury-time but his attempt from outside the box flew over the bar as the visitors secured maximum points.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: FC Goa

Swift Moment of the Match: Sandesh Jhingan

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Mandar Rao Dessai

Amul Fittest Player: Manuel Lanzarote

Emerging Player: Brandon Fernandes

Hero of the Match: Edu Bedia

Watch the match highlights here: