Czech striker scores double as Zico & Co. leapfrog Kerala to third place
FC Goa romped to a 3-0 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in their Indian Super League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Wednesday. After a closely-fought first half, Goa broke the game open after the break, with three second-half goals which included a brace by substitute Miroslav Slepicka on either side of an André Santos strike.
The first half ended 0-0, but Goa looked like the team more likely to score throughout, attacking the Kerala goal from the start. They were lively going forward, and managed to extract important saves from Blasters keeper, David James. Tolgay Ozbey, Zohib Amiri, Mandar Rao Desai, and Andre Santos all came agonizingly close to scoring for the hosts. Özbey hit the inside of the post with following a superb run down the left early in the game, and James made a superb save to deny Santos' follow-up and then Amiri's header from the subsequent corner. He made another excellent save when Rao was clean through on goal following a threaded through ball from Santos. Brazilian Santos came closest to breaking the deadlock, and in fact beat James, only to see his shot headed off the line by Guruwinder Singh.
Though Kerala made attacking substitutions to start the 2nd half, bringing on Iain Hume and Goan-born Milagres Gonsalves, Goa came out with even more attacking purpose. Two goals in six minutes finally broke the Blasters' resistance. Santos, who had been inconsistent with his delivery up to that point, floated in a perfect free kick from the left in the 63rd minute, which fell to the onrushing Slepicka, who calmly finished past James to give Goa the lead. Minutes later, Slepicka and Romeo Fernandes combined to set up Santos, who slotted home from the latter's cutback.
As Kerala looked to get back into the game, they got hit on the break, with Slepicka getting his second, and Goa's third. A clever one-two with Bikramjit Singh played the Czech striker through on goal, and though his first effort was parried by James, Slepicka was quickest to react and beat his man to the ball, finishing into an empty net.
This was Goa's third clean sheet in a row, and fifth straight game unbeaten. For Kerala, who boasted the best defence in the league heading into the game, the loss puts an end to their own five-game unbeaten run. The result sees Zico's men leapfrog the Blasters into third place, courtesy of a superior goal difference. Their next game is on December 1 against NorthEast United FC, their final home game, while Kerala Blasters host league leaders Chennaiyin FC in a 'South Indian derby' on November 30.
Nesta to join Chennaiyin
Italy and AC Milan's legendary centre-back Alessandro Nesta will join Chennaiyin FC for the remainder of Indian Super League's inaugural edition. The defender was signed by the Chennai franchise as in-form striker John Stiven Mendoza was deemed unfit to play in the remaining ISL matches due to a hamstring injury. Nesta will join the Abhishek Bachchan and MS Dhoni-owned side after December 5.
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