The Manjappada is in full voice after their team secured three points against Jamshedpur in the Super Sunday matchup. A string of disappointing results, including the 4-2 loss against Odisha FC, the last team in the points table, has increased the pressure on Kibu Vicuna. The win has given the coach some ground to stand on for the rest of the season. The team from the South will be happy with their first win over Jamshedpur in the league.
The game could have gone both ways. Both sides started the game on an attacking mindset. The Men of Steel almost opened the scoring when Aniket Jadhav hit the post in opening minutes of the game. Kerala had two chances to take the lead, with both Gary Hooper and Jordan Murray missing both of them inside the box. But they eventually went one- up when Costa headed a free kick from Facundo Pereyra, past Jamshedpur keeper Rehenesh.
The talisman Nerijus Valskis converted a free kick from the edge of the box, which was awarded for a foulLalruatthara. This was the first goal scored directly from a free kick in season 7 of the Indian Super League.
The first half clearly pointed that the match was far from over. The Kerala Camp had a scare when Lalruatthara received a second yellow and got send off for tripping Jackichand Singh in the 66th minute. But to everyone’s surprise, Hooper restored the lead with a close range tap-in. The shot from Pereyra was savedRehenesh but he parried it straight to Murray who just had to direct it goalwards.
Murray doubled his tally from one of the wildest goalkeeper mistakes of the season. An overplayed through ball from Facundo was interceptedRehenesh, but he could not gather the ball properly. The loose ball ended up with Murray, who would have not scored an easier goal in his entire career.
Jamshedpur scored again, and Valskis was the point of attack again. He headed in a great cross from Mobashir to make the score 2-3. Even after playing with ten men for over 30 minutes, Blasters held on to the score for their second win of the seventh edition of the Super League.