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ISL: FC Goa fight back to hold Kerala Blasters

January 02, 2022 22:49 IST

Jorge Ortiz celebrates with Mohammed Nemil after pulling a goal back for FC Goa in the ISL match against Kerala Blaster in Vasco, Goa, on Sunday.

IMAGE: Jorge Ortiz celebrates with Mohammed Nemil after pulling a goal back for FC Goa in the ISL match against Kerala Blaster in Vasco, Goa, on Sunday. Photograph: ISL/Twitter

Adrian Luna's stunning goal was unable to earn Kerala Blasters victory as FC Goa fought back in a thrilling Indian Super League match which ended 2-2, at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, in Vasco, Goa, on Sunday.

Jeakson Singh (10th) opened the scoring for the Blasters before Luna scored a wondergoal in the 20th minute to make it 2-0.

 

Kerala were in command before Goa fought back to first make it 2-1, riding a Jorge Ortiz (24th minute) strike before Edu Bedia scored from a corner in the 38th minute.

Kerala are now third in the league table with 14 points from nine games while FC Goa remain ninth with nine points from nine outings.

Kerala were off to a perfect start, nosing ahead in just 10 minutes after Luna swung in a delectable corner for Jeakson to head home.

The yellow shirts dominated proceedings thereafter, with Glan Martins smashing a volley from long just over, against the run of the play.

Kerala went 2-0 up soon after, Luna showing his brilliance this time.

The Uruguayan was given space on the left inside channel and the 29-year-old made merry, getting the ball to dip past the ‘keeper from 30 yards out.

The ball hit the post and went in, leaving Dheeraj Moirangthem with no chance to keep it out.

Pegged back twice in quick succession, Goa picked themselves up, riding on Ortiz's strike.

The Spaniard received a ball from Saviour Gama, turned sharply and fired home past Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, who was beaten at his near post.

Kerala came close to making it 3-1 near the half-time whistle but Sahal Abdul Samad shot over the bar from a Alvaro Vazquez cross.

Goa drew level from the next attack, and it was Edu Bedia who got in the act curling in an exquisite corner that went in leaving Gill high and dry.

A frantic first-half came to an end with both sides level 2-2.

In the second period, both teams showed caution as chances were few and far between. Edu Bedia's effort from a free-kick came off the crossbar much to Goa's dismay as the match ended with both teams sharing the spoils.

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