Chennaiyin no match for Kerala
A high-flying Kerala Blasters FC recorded a second successive win in the Indian Super League 2021-22 as it decimated Chennaiyin FC 3-0 at the Tilak Maidan here on Wednesday.
Kerala had defeated table-topper Mumbai City FC by the same margin in its previous contest. Following the result on Wednesday, KBFC (12 points off 7 matches) rose to third on the table while CFC (11 points off 7 matches) slipped out of the top-four to fifth.
Jorge Pereyra Diaz (9’) gave Kerala the lead by scoring his third goal of the campaign before the in-form Sahal Abdul Samad (38’) doubled the advantage ahead of the half-time interval. Creative midfielder Adrian Luna (79’) later netted his first goal of the ISL season to put the result beyond any doubt in the second half. Jorge Diaz sent his team into an early lead after a lofted through ball found the striker in ample space behind CFC’s backline. His right-footed shot towards the bottom left corner gave no chance for Chennaiyin goalkeeper Vishal Kaith to make a save.
KBFC custodian Prabhsukhan Gill was called into action just before the half-hour mark and made a brilliant save to keep away a header from his own defender. CFC midfielder Germanpreet Singh had a fabulous opportunity to score the equaliser just before the drinks break, but his shot from roughly 12-yards out went wide.
Sahal then extended the lead in the 38th minute by scoring from inside the box after a poor clearance from Kaith handed the ball to Kerala. Sahal’s initial shot was blocked by right-back Reagan Singh, but the India international made no mistake with the rebound and calmly placed the ball into the back of the net.
Alvaro Vazquez then had the chance to score a third before half-time, but could not beat the goalkeeper from a one-on-one situation. Centre-back Salam Ranjan Singh and striker Lukasz Gikiewicz were sent in as half-time changes by Chennaiyin manager Bozidar Bandovic to influence the game.
Despite sustained periods of pressure, CFC did not have a clear goal-scoring opportunity until the second drinks break. Post the resumption, Luna opened his account with a powerful right-footed strike following a lack of communication among the CFC defenders.
RESULT: Chennaiyin FC 0 lost to Kerala Blasters FC 3 (Jorge Diaz 9, Sahal 38, A Luna 79)*