Kerala Blasters FC climbed into 1st for the first time in 7 years after defeating Hyderabad FC 1-0 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa. The Tuskers halted the the Nizams unbeaten streak to extend their own to 9 games.
It was the league’s best finisher, Alvaro Vazquez, who came up with the game’s only goal. The Blasters are now level on points (17) with Mumbai City at the summit but lead on goal difference.
Kerala have only lost a single game so far, the lowest in the league, as they continue their red hot form.
Kerala Blaster FC 1-0 Hyderabad FC: The Game
As the first whistle sounded, Hyderabad began strongly. They even had an opportunity to go ahead early on. An Edu Garcia free-kick swerved adeptly to clear the wall. However, keeper Prabhsukhan Gill stretched to get a hand to it to tip it over the bar.
Bartholomew Ogbeche saw his 4th yellow of the campaign for a hard tackle on Gill. This means he must sit out Hyderabad’s next game.
However, following the initial minutes going to the Nizams, it was all Kerala.
24 minutes in, Kattimani stretched to make an impressive save to contest Jorge Diaz’s header from close range.
The Blasters dispatched wave after wave of attack until finally Vazquez delivered. Sahal Samad connected with an incoming long throw-in and directed it behind him across the penalty area. Waiting to pounce, Vazquez banged in a venomous volley on the spin to stun the goalkeeper.
Ogbeche came close to levelling for the Nizams just before the break but the Nigerian’s shot flew wide. In the second period, Hyderabad attempted to up their game but were unable to engineer any real chances.
Substitute Javier Siverio did have a crack at goal but it could not draw level. Siverio managed to beat Gill, but Kerala captain Jessel Carneiro was present to deny him with a sublime goal-line clearance.
Following regulation time, 12 minutes was added as stoppage time. However, Kerala Blasters preserved the lead and ultimately took all 3 points.
Follow our Twitter for regular football news and updates.
