FC Goa thrash Kerala Blasters 31, lead ISL table by three points

KOCHI: FC Goa opened a three point lead at the top of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2018 table after they eased past Kerala Blasters 3-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on Sunday.

A Ferran Corominas double and a strike by Manvir Singh was enough for Goa to pick yet another three points as they are now the first team this season to score over 20 goals. Kerala pulled one back late in the game through Nikola Krcmarevic.

It took 11 minutes for the visitors to take the lead. Coro scored his seventh goal as he got on the end of a Ahmed Jahouh cross to head home as the Kerala defence was caught napping.

Jahouh, Edu Bedia and Lenny Rodrigues controlled the proceedings as Kerala struggled to create a chance of note

REAL KASHMIR LOSE

SRINAGAR: Manipur’s Neroca FC handed debutants Real Kashmir FC their first defeat in the I-League with a 2-0 win here on Sunday.

Felix Chidi struck twice (28th and 74th minutes) to give Neroca their first win of the season at the TRC Turf stadium here.

Neroca FC had more of the exchanges initially but the ‘Snow Leopards’ roared back with a string of attacking moves through Ivory Coast striker Gnohere Krizo and Danish Farooq with assists from the flanks but were unable to find the back of the net.

GOKULAM BEAT LAJONG

KOZHIKODE: Gokulam Kerala proved to be much stronger for young Shillong Lajong as they muscled their way to a 3-1 win in an I-League clash at the EMS Corporation Stadium here on Sunday. Gani Nigam, Antonio German and Rajesh S scored for Gokulam while Buam was the lone scorer for Shillong Lajong FC.

Gokulam’s first effort to score happened in the third minute when Suhair VP made a fine cross from the left but before German could find the space to head it, Lajong’s Aiban made a fine clearance.