ISL 2015: FC Goa thrash Kerala 5-1, book semis berth
FC Goa sealed their ISL 2015 semis berth on Sunday. (Source: ISL)
Reinaldo da Cruz Oliveira struck a hat-trick as FC Goa secured their place in the semifinal of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a record 5-1 win over Kerala Blasters, here on Sunday. It was the biggest away victory so far recorded in the ISL as FC Goa moved second with 22 points from 13 games while Kerala Blasters stayed at the bottom with 12 points from as many fixtures.
The Blasters’ second minute lead scored by Victor Herrero Forcada was annulled by Jofre Mateu Gonzalez in the 12th minute at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. FC Goa had their third hat-trick hero in Reinaldo da Cruz Oliveira (29’, 50’, 61’) while Mandar Rao Dessai (64’) joined the party to ensure a comfortable win.
The home team had to play the second half with 10 men following the sending off of Josu Carrias.
The game started on the wrong foot for the Goans as Forcada scored early on as he lobbed the ball wide on the right to Antonio German who cut past Mandar Rao Dessai and put it back for the Spaniard to blast into the nets. In the counter, Mandar almost found Reinaldo ahead of Stephen Bywater with a cross from the left but the Kerala goalkeeper held on neatly.
FC Goa soon got back in the game when Reinaldo side footed a Pronay Halder cross from the right standing in between Deepak Mandal and Peter Ramage to release Jofre who sweetly chipped the ball above Bywater to score the equaliser.
German kept pressurising and had the visiting team’s defense on their toes to scramble away a clearance off one of his runs in the 19th minute, while FC Goa continually surged into the attack until they took the lead in the 29th minute.
The move was initiated by Moura with a diagonal pass to Mandar on the left wing to receive it back at the edge of the box. The number 10 served a delightful through ball on the platter for Reinaldo who calmly placed the ball across the goal line. The end of the first half was preceded by a straight red card to Currias for the Kerala player’s retaliation to a challenge from Jofre.
Five minutes into the second half, Jofre pushed the ball on the left wing for Mandar and the latter put an incisive cross towards Reinaldo who could not miss from inside the six yards area. The fourth and fifth goals came in the 61st and 64th minutes.
