Kerala Blasters’ best-ever run in the Indian Super League (ISL) is over after they went down 0-1 to a resurgent Bengaluru FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa on Sunday.
Young full-back Naorem Roshan Singh produced a stunning second-half free kick to settle what was a neck-and-neck battle between the two south Indian rivals as Bengaluru continued to grow in confidence to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches. Meanwhile, Ivan Vukomanovic will be hoping the defeat is a minor blip for his side as they look to gain momentum again after a 17-day enforced break due to aCovid-19 outbreak.
The Yellow Army remain third on the ISL table with 20 points from 12 games while Bengaluru climb into the top-four with the same number of points, but have played two games more. Chances were far and few between in the first half with Jorge Pereyra Diaz hitting the side netting for Blasters and Sunil Chhetri firing wide a free-kick for Bengaluru in the early minutes. Nishu Kumar flashed wide in the 22nd minute before Prince Ibara failed to hit the target with his header a couple of minutes later.
Gurpreet was called into action just past the half-hour mark as he fisted away a powerful free kick from Alvaro Vazquez. Meanwhile, Blasters continued to be vulnerable from dead-ball situations. In the 36th minute, Ibara’s header across the goal from a corner almost fell to Chhetri, but Nishu was on hand to clear off the line.
The first period ended with controversy after Chhetri was brought down from behind by Nishu inside the area in the added time, but a penalty was not forthcoming. Marco Pezzaiuoli’s men took control of the game after the break and were rewarded with the lead, thanks to Roshan. The 22-year-old full-back had threatened Blasters throughout the game with his set-piece deliveries and his effort finally breached Prabhsukhan Singh Gill’s goal in the 56th minute.
Credit must go to a Covid-ravaged Blasters as they maintained their intensity despite only returning to training on Friday. They were only denied an equaliser by the goalkeeping heroics of Gurpreet. The experienced India international pushed away an excellent volley from Harmanjot Singh Khabra in the 69th minute and was quick off the line to deny Adrian Luna after he was played through on goal by Diaz three minutes later. Gurpreet also had to produce a save to deny a Sahal Abdul Samad shot from creeping in at his near post moments later and ensure all three points for the Blues.
