We saw another draw today, albeit a very entertaining one. We are off to Goa on Saturday as FC Goa host table toppers, ATK FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The match starts at 1930 IST, do join us then. Cheers!
Awards!
The Club Award is shared as the match is drawn. CK Vineeth is given the Limitless Player of the Match Award. Farukh Choudhary gets the Winning Pass of the Match Award. Sahal Abdul Samad takes the ISL Emerging Player of the Match Award while Messi Bouli collects the Hero of the Match Award.
Potboiler ends magnificently
It ends as a 2-2 draw. Both sides went hammer and tongs and we were treated to a very entertaining game. The half was littered with Kerala Blasters FC's attacks on the visitors' goal but the substitute, CK Vineeth, scored Jamshedpur FC's second goal against his former employers in the 71st minute to make it 2-0. After that setback, the Blasters pulled one back in the span of four minutes as Messi Bouli powered in a header. With chances coming at both ends, it was the hosts who got lucky as Robin Gurung brought down Seityasen Singh in the box and the referee penalized him for doing so. Messi Bouli converted the penalty to score his brace and complete the comeback for the hosts. This is the third draw on the trot for either side. After this match, Jamshedpur FC move up a place to third, while Kerala Blasters FC also move up a place to seventh.
90'
Full time!
Samuel Lalmuanpuia takes a corner from the left-hand side. It is blocked away. The ball falls to Seityasen Singh, his shot on goal was blocked by Aitor Monroy. The ball is then cleared to safety and the referee blows his whistle for full time.
87'
Substitution
Substitution - Jamshedpur FC (In: PEREIRA, Out: PASSI)
90'
Injury time!
Only three minutes are added to the final 45 minutes.
90'
Substitution
Substitution - Jamshedpur FC (In: J. ANIKET, Out: ISAAC)
90'
Flurry of chances
Samuel Lalmuanpuia takes a shot, it is deflected but Subrata Paul keeps it out. Jessel Carneiro on the right flanks crosses to the far post. His teammate keeps it in but Subrata Paul easily catches the ball.
87'
GGOOOALL - Bouli equalizes!
Messi Bouli steps up to take the spot-kick, he clobbers the ball into the top right corner of the net. Subrata Paul went the right way but he was never getting there. That was a bolt by Bouli.
87'
Goal-Penalty
Goal-Penalty - Kerala Blasters FC : MESSI B
86'
Penalty
Seityasen Singh is brought down to the ground in the box by Robin Gurung. The referee immediately points to the spot.
83'
Jessel Carneiro saves the day!
CK Vineeth crosses the ball into the box. It misses his teammates and falls for Jessel Carneiro, who engineers a back-heeled clearance to save the day.
81'
Final sub for Kerala Blasters FC
Mohamad Rakip is replaced by Samuel Lalmuanpuia.
81'
Substitution
Substitution - Kerala Blasters FC (In: SAMUEL, Out: M.RAKIP)
75'
GGGOOOOAALLL!
Messi Bouli scores. The hosts fight back almost immediately. Sahal Abdul Samad gets the ball at the edge of the box on the right. His cross is to the far post and Bouli shows his muscle to outjump Memo Moura and Robin Gurung and head it into the back of the net. The game is back live!
75'
Goal
Goal - Kerala Blasters FC : MESSI B
71'
GOAL!
The substitute, CK Vineeth scores against his former club. The Indian veteran gets the ball at the edge of the box and plays it to Farukh Choudhary, who tracks Vineeth's run into the box and passes the ball back to him. CK Vineeth shoots it across and into the back of the net. Is this the game for Jamshedpur FC?
70'
Super save!
Mario Arques gets the ball from a clearance outside the box. He strikes it hard. Subrata Paul dives to his left to beat the swerving effort out.
72'
Goal
Goal - Jamshedpur FC : VINEETH
68'
Offside!
Jessel Carneiro, from the left flank, crosses the ball to Messi Bouli. The burly forward made a run beyond the final defender before the ball was played to him. The referee's assistant flagged him offside.
66'
Tiri blocks!
Sahal Abdul Samad runs into the box and shoots. The substitute's strike is blocked by Tiri.
64'
First sub for Jamshedpur FC
Piti is replaced by CK Vineeth. Can the veteran Indian striker make his mark to extend Jamshedpur FC's lead?
64'
Substitution
Substitution - Jamshedpur FC (In: VINEETH, Out: PITI)
63'
Kerala Blasters FC make another change
Halicharan Narzary is replaced by Prasanth Karuthadathkuni.
63'
Substitution
Substitution - Kerala Blasters FC (In: PRASANTH, Out: NARZARY. H)
61'
Shot blocked
Mohamad Rakip on the right flank crosses the ball into the box but it is cleared to Jessel Carneiro outside the box. He takes a first-time fierce shot but it is blocked by Robin Gurung for a corner.
59'
Thow-in, Kerala Blasters FC
Long throw-in specialist Raju Gaikwad, throws the ball into the box. It is headed out for a Kerala Blasters FC throw-in again.
54'
First substitution!
Sergio Cidoncha is withdrawn. Sahal Abdul Samad replaces him. Mario Arques is the skipper for Kerala Blasters FC now.
54'
Substitution
Substitution - Kerala Blasters FC (In: SAHAL, Out: CIDO)
54'
First yellow
Messi Bouli gets a caution for his challenge on Tiri.
54'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Kerala Blasters FC : MESSI B
50'
Sergio Cidoncha misses by a whisker!
Mohamad Rakip plays in the onrushing Seityasen Singh on the right wing. Singh crosses it into the box. The ball is just a little away from Mario Arques' outstretched toe. Messi Bouli too can't get to it but the ball breaks kindly for Sergio Cidoncha in the box. The skipper's drive though is just wide of the post on his right.
48'
Half chance! Great keepeing!
Robin Gurung lobs it forward for Farukh Choudhary to chase. TP Rehenesh, like he did in the first half, is off his line to catch the ball.
46'
Play resumes
Kerala Blasters FC get us underway. No changes at halftime for either side.
Visitors lead at half time!
A half that started with the hosts dictating play in the beginning, saw Jamshedpur FC grow into the game and create chance after chance. The Blasters had TP Rehenesh to thank for his last-ditch goalkeeping, as he made sure the visitors remained at bay. However, Vlatko Drobarov, was the guilty party as he manhandled Tiri in the box. This indiscretion saw Jamshedpur FC get a penalty, which Piti duly converted in the 38th minute. The hosts tried hard to get back. Bouli threatened Jamshedpur FC's goal but he was undone right at the end by the referee's decision to not give a penalty as he was brought down in the box by Robin Gurung at the stroke of half time. Do join us for the coverage of the second half.
45'
Drama at the stroke of half time!
Sergio Cidoncha crosses the ball towards Messi Bouli in the box. As Bouli shapes up to shoot he seems to have been pushed by Robin Gurung, hence missing the target. The ref missed the tug on Bouli and the forward is clearly unhappy. Once the goal kick is taken, the ref blows his whistle for half time.
45'
Added time
2 minutes have been added on.
45'
Good hustle by Bouli
A through ball is played a little ahead of Messi Bouli. Memo Moura manages to get himself in between the ball and Bouli. As he shields the ball while Subrata Paul comes to catch it on the dive. Messi Bouli manages to poke it straight past the keeper.
42'
On target!
Halicharan Narzary gets the ball close to the box on the left. He puts in a cross to Mario Arques inside the penalty area. Arques' header is on target but it lacks any power. Subrata Paul steadies himself and catches the ball.
38'
GGOOAALL
Piti converts it. He keeps his cool and lets the keeper make the first move. Seeing TP Rehenesh dive to his left, Piti slots it right to the middle of the goal. Jamshedpur FC are one goal up!
38'
Goal-Penalty
Goal-Penalty - Jamshedpur FC : PITI
36'
Penalty from a corner!
Isaac Vanmalsawma takes a left-sided corner. He launches it long towards the far post. Vlatko Drobarov manhandles Tiri there and brings him down. The referee spots this and point to the spot. Piti to take the penalty.
33'
Seityasen Singh hands it
Seityasen Singh gains possession at the edge of the box and on the right and he runs in with the ball. His shot is blocked by Narender Gahlot. Singh tries to block the clearance but the ball strikes his arms.
30'
Bright play again!
Aitor Monroy regains possession and launches a cross field ball from the left to Robin Gurung on the side. Gurung runs with it and lobs it for Farukh Choudhary. TP Rehenesh is in action again as he comes off his line to catch the ball.
26'
Sweeper keeper!
Farukh Choudhary beats the offside trap with ease as he is played in with a lob. TP Rehenesh is alive to the danger as he races out of his box and makes a vital clearance.
27'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Jamshedpur FC : PASSI
23'
Narender Gahlot crosses
Narender Gahlot on the left flank is played in by Isaac Vanmalsawma. The full-back runs towards the byline and launches a cross into the box. It was meant for Farukh Choudhary but he couldn't get at the end of it. Bright play.
20'
Flow of play
The initial exuberance Kerala Blasters FC showed has been blunted by Jamshedpur FC's play. The visitors are starting to establish their authority on this match.
15'
Too close for comfort!
A lob is well played towards Farukh Choudhary. As he chases the ball in the box, TP Rehenesh comes off his line but loses the ball as he tackles Choudhary on the right side of the box. The loose ball is pounced up by the keeper just at the edge of the box.
15'
Free kick, Jamshedpur FC!
Seityasen Singh pushes Isaac Vanmalsawma to the floor. The ref signals a free kick. Piti plays it too long around the far post. It evades everyone before Messi Bouli pokes it out for a throw-in.
12'
Corner, Kerala Blasters FC!
Jessel Carneiro walks over to take a left-sided corner. He launches it but the ball doesn't clear the first man at the near post. Sumeet Passi clears the ball away.
8'
Fired over!
The ball breaks kindly for Messi Bouli at the edge of the box. He makes his way into the box but ends up shooting is over the crossbar.
5'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Kerala Blasters FC : JEAKSON
4'
First shot on target to the Blasters
That should have been dead and buried! The ball breaks for Seityasen Singh on the right-wing. The winger makes space for himself to launch a cross. He picks out Arques in the center of the box, roughly six yards out. Sadly, Mario Arques heads it straight to Subrata Paul.
1'
Kick off!
Jamshedpur FC get us underway. Immediately, they move the ball forward. Piti has half a chance as he hustles TP Rehenesh while the keeper makes his clearance. It goes off Piti's foot for a goal kick.
Toss
The flip of the coin goes Kerala Blasters FC's way. Sergio Cidoncha chooses to kick from right to left. Therefore, Jamshedpur FC will have the kick off.
National Anthem
The players walk out of the tunnel and line up in respect of the Indian National Anthem. Toss is moments away.
Jamshedpur FC Playing XI
Subrata Paul (GK), Tiri (C), Narender Gahlot, Robin Gurung, Jitendra Singh, Aitor Monroy, Piti, Memo Moura, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Sumeet Passi, Farukh Choudhary.
Today's match in the Indian Super League sees Kerala Blasters FC hosting Jamshedpur FC, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. The hosts have managed to take all three points only once, that too in their first match of the season against ATK FC. They are on a winless streak since then, losing and drawing thrice. The Blasters’ head coach, Eelco Schattorie, hinted to Mario Arques’ return to the squad, claiming the former Jamshedpur FC player has been passed fit. The hosts will look up to Messi Bouli again to lead the line and provide the attacking threat. Mohamad Rakip and co. will have their hands full to keep Jamshedpur FC’s attackers in check. The Blasters like to keep the ball and control play, and the likes of Jeakson Singh, Prasanth Karuthadathkuni and Sergio Cidoncha will be their midfield orchestrators. The team from the south is winless in four matches against the Men of Steel, playing out three draws and losing one. Both teams come into this match, on the back of two draws. The Jamshedpur-based team has injury concerns aplenty. They are without the star striker Sergio Castel. However, their Indian talent has stepped up to the plate quite well. Farukh Choudhary, Aniket Jadhav and Isaac Vanmalsawma have done brilliantly upfront. Memo Moura and Aitor Monroy’s experience will help these Indian starlets flourish. A win for Jamshedpur FC would take them to the top of the pile. So, will we see Jamshedpur FC extend the Blasters’ winless run? Or will the hosts win their first game since the opening day of this campaign? Lots to know.