Kerala Blasters recorded their first win of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season by defeating Odisha FC Tilak Maidan in Goa 2-1 on Sunday, on a day of many firsts.
Alvaro Vazquez scored his first goal for Blasters after a goalless first half, and substitute Prasanth Karuthadathkuni added a second late on as Odisha suffered their first defeat in the ISL. Nikhil Raj’s late goal was too little, too late for Kiko Ramirez’s Odisha.
The win could provide Kerala the much-needed boost to their ISL campaign, as they move up to sixth place in the standings with five points from four games, while Odisha remain third with six points from three games.
The Blasters put Kamaljith Singh to the test early on, with the Odisha goalkeeper save an Adrian Luna free kick in the fifth minute. In the first half, Ivan Vukomanovic’s team dominated possession. Ramirez’s team, on the other hand, had the more clear-cut chances.
After Aridai Cabrera’s ball, Odisha’s Javi Hernandez shot over from 15 yards out in the 12th minute. The Blasters were furious when referee Venkatesh R rejected the assistant referee’s offside call on Javi in the 37th minute, culminating in the pinball side the Blasters area. Their goalkeeper Albino Gomes had to tip away an ambitious long ranger from Hendry Antonay.