So we're done with this one. On the 26th of January, Saturday, NorthEast United FC will host Chennayin FC at 1930 IST. It will be an interesting contest as the stakes for top 4 are on the line. Do join in for that one. See you then!
Awards
The Club Award is shared by both the teams as the match was a draw. The Limitless Player of the Match Award is handed over to John Johnson and the Winning Pass of the Match goes to Cyril Kali. While the Emerging Player is Sahal Abdul Samad, Edu Garcia is declared as the Hero of the Match.
Points shared
Not the result Nelo Vingada was hoping for in his first game in charge. His team had the chances but couldn't make the most of it. After a rather tame first half, Kerala went on the attack. They had plenty of chances but none found the back of the net. The game then suddenly changed when ATK had one chance and Edu Garcia with a masterpiece ensured that ATK take the lead out of no where. Kerala never sat back, minutes later a Cyril Kali cross took a deflection of an ATK player and settled in the back of the net. No team could find a winner post that and they had to share the points.
90'
Full time
We do not have a winner here. The game ends 1-1.
90'
Change
Kerala going for the win. They get in Courage Pekuson for Slavisa Stojanovic.
90'
Substitution
Substitution - Kerala Blasters FC (In: Courage Pekuson, Out: Slavisa Stojanovic)
90'
Added time
We will have three added minutes to see off this game.
90'
Substitution
Substitution - Kerala Blasters FC (In: Pritam Singh, Out: Cyril Kali)
88'
Own Goal
Own Goal - Kerala Blasters FC : Gerson Vieira
88'
GOOOAAALLL!!!
Kerala are back! We have a game on our hands! The hosts take a short corner and Cyril Kali then delivers a ball to the far post. Matej Poplatnik jumps and heads it towards goal. It takes a slight deflection of Gerson Vieira and goes past the keeper. Matej Poplatnik won't mind it. Can Kerala carry this momentum with them and score a winner?
87'
Substitution
Substitution - ATK (In: Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Out: Edu Garcia)
85'
GOOOAAALLLL!!!!
WHAT A STRIKE! Cool and calm and this is what Edu Garcia brings to you on the table. A poor foul in the first place and ATK make the most of it. Sets himself beyond this set-piece and then slots the free kick under the wall. Nikola Krcmarevic jumps and the ball rolls into the net. Dheeraj Singh does not look happy.
85'
Goal
Goal - ATK : Edu Garcia
83'
Another card
Rash tackle from Lalruatthara. Edu Garcia was getting away from him but the former takes his leg instead of the ball.
84'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Kerala Blasters FC : Lalruatthara
80'
YELLOW!
That will be the first card of the day. Nikola Krcmarevic puts in a tackle from behind on Hitesh Sharma and the ref puts his hand in the pocket.
80'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Kerala Blasters FC : Nikola Krcmarevic
78'
Substitution
Kerala's new recruit Baoringdao Bodo comes in place of Seiminlen Doungel. Can he make an impact on his debut?
78'
Substitution
Substitution - Kerala Blasters FC (In: Baoringdao Bodo, Out: Seiminlen Doungel)
73'
Another chance missed!
You have to take these chances if you want to get all points from a game. Another big opportunity for the Manjappdas but it goes begging. Prasanth chips one from the byline to the far post. Doungel is there, he leaps but cannot keep it on target.
70'
Good connection
Good team play from the home team. They have really pushed the pedal and asking the questions. Another decent play from them. Matej Poplatnik gives a cushion header to Seiminlen Doungel who runs in but volleys his shot above the goal.
Nikola Krcmarevic feeds Sahal Abdul Samad outside the box. The midfielder gets away from two defenders and then makes an angles for him. He tries to dip one but the ball goes just over the crossbar. Good effort from the youngster.
60'
How did he miss?
Kerala should be in the lead! Bad miss from Slavisa Stojanovic. Doungel chips the ball to Stojanovic fro inside the box. The latter takes a touch and then just fires one in from close range. He goes for power and cannot manage to keep the ball on target. Goal kick.
57'
No one to tap it in
Good skill from Jayesh shown down that right flank. He gets the better of his man and then crosses the ball on the platform. To his dismay, it evades the players waiting in the middle and too far away from Hitesh Sharma at the far post.
53'
Poor end product
Edu Garcia showing all his class here. He runs with the ball from midfield and makes room for himself. He then creates an angle and drills in a low shot but not enough venom to trouble the keeper.
46'
Shot on target
Gerson Vieira puts his laces behind one from the left and tests Dheeraj Singh. The keeper was in a good position and punches the ball away from danger.
46'
Second half
We are back for the second half. Kerala Blasters get us underway this time around.
All level at the break!
A cagey start to the first game of the ISL after a long international break. Both the teams trying to go for a goal but neither have succeed. A couple of chances for both teams but the keepers have ensured that the scoreline stays 0-0. Edu forced Dheeraj Singh into a flying save later in the half while a couple of headers from Kerala was kept out by Arindam Bhattacharja. Don't go anywhere the second half is on your way.
45'
Half time
That is it. The ref blows his whistle for the first half.
45'
Added time
We will have just a minute of added time in this half.
42'
Super stuff!
Jayesh Rane plays the ball to Edu Garcia in the middle of the box. The Spaniard turns and then lashes a shot towards goal. Dheeraj Singh dives to his left and parries the ball for a corner. Lovely save.
35'
SAVE!
Lalruatthara floats in a ball to Matej Poplatnik near the box. The latter does well to generate power on his header and force Arindam Bhattacharja into a save.
32'
Lovely from Andre Bikey
A long ball is headed to the path of Seiminlen Doungel inside the box. Doungel hares towards it but the big Andre Bikey does just enough to avoid Doungel get to the ball.
30'
Wayward
Seiminlen Doungel lays the ball off to Slavisa Stojanovic. The latter hots it first time with his left but scuffs it and the ball goes wide of the far post.
28'
Cross
Jayesh Rane puts in a cross from the right but it is dealt with by Kerala.
19'
No damage
Matej Poplatnik takes the free kick from a good 20-yards out. He though manages to get a deflection off Pranoy and the ball lobs over the goal post.
19'
Free kick
Pronay Halder takes down Matej Poplatnik from behind. It is a very bad tackle from the ATK midfillder. The refree awards a free kick outside the box. Halder will be considering himself lucky to not get booked.
15'
Corner
Slavisa Stojanovic takes the corner from the right. He finds Nikola Krcmarevic in the box but his header is way off target on the right.
15'
Just got saved
Andre Bikey cannot control the ball. Slavisa Stojanovic steals it away from him and passes on the right to Seiminlen Doungel, who plays it on the left flank to Prasanth K on the right. They play a little one-two and puts in a cross but it goes out after a deflection form an ATK defender.
12'
First corner for the visitors
Edu Garcia takes it from the right and finds John Johnson in the box. He cannot keep his header on target and hits it wide on the left.
8'
Corner
Cyril Kali whips in a low cross in the box. Arindam Bhattacharja gets his finger tips to it and the ball goes out for a corner. The subsequent corner is whipped in the box by Slavisa Stojanovic from the left but it is cleared away by ATK.
5'
Brilliant Tackle
Edu Garcia runs in the box from the left. He is up against the keeper but skipper Sandesh Jhingan recovers and puts in a brilliant sliding tackle in the box to stop Garcia.
3'
First Chance
It falls to the home side. Prasanth K lobs in a cross from the right and finds Matej Poplatnik in the box. He jumps high but heads it wide.
1'
Kick off
We are ready to go for the first game of ISL in 2019 and tonight's host Kerala Blasters get us underway.
Toss
ATK have won the toss and will attack from rigth to left in the first half.
National Anthem
The players are out in the middle for the Indian National Anthem.
ATK XI
Arindam Bhattacharja (GK), Gerson Vieira, John Johnson (C), Ricky Lallawmawma, Kalu Uche, Jayesh Rane, Pronay Halder, Hitesh Sharma, Pritam Kotal, Edu Garcia, Andre Bikey.
Kerala Blasters FC XI
Dheeraj Singh (GK), Nemanja Lakic-Pesic, Nikola Krcmarevic, Cyril Kali, Slavisa Stojanovic, Seiminlen Doungel, Matej Poplatnik, Prasanth K, Sahal Abdul Samad, Sandesh Jhingan (C), Lalruatthara.
Hi there, folks!
We are back! More than a month has passed since the 6-1 drubbing of Kerala Blasters at the hands of Mumbai City FC. The Blasters are back in action in the first match of the second half of this ISL season. Match number 60 will see them take on ATK at home. Neither team has been at their best this season so far and find themselves in the bottom half of the table. The hosts are at a far worse 8th position than the visitors who are on 6th. Too many things have gone wrong for the Manjapaddas since the first time they played ATK this edition, where they won 2-0. That was the only win so far and in all reality, it should be really difficult for them to be alive in the tournament. The coach has changed and hopefully, will bring about a change in results at least. ATK, on the other hand, still have a fighting chance to qualify for the playoff stage, provided the results go their way. New additions Edu Garcia and Pritam Kotal could cause the turnaround. The opportunity presents itself for both teams to start the second half on a winning note. Kerala are desperately looking to break their winless run of 11 games and ATK will try to improve their tally of 10 goals this season against a side that has failed to keep a clean sheet at home this season. A goal-fest could be on the cards, should be a fun watch.