KOCHI: FC Goa came from a goal down to hammer 10-man Kerala Blasters 5-1 and steal a place in the semi-finals of the Hero Indian Super League in their 13th round clash in Kochi on Sunday.
FC Goa were aided by a hat-trick from Brazilian striker Reinaldo Oliveira and enjoyed a numerical advantage after Kerala Blasters midfielder Josue Currais was sent off at the stroke of half time. Jofre Gonzalez and Mandar Rao Desai scored the other two goals for FC Goa after Victor Pulga had given Kerala Blasters the lead in the second minute itself. The teams were tied 1-1 at the break.
The win took FC Goa’s points tally to 22, just one behind league leaders Atletico de Kolkata. FC Goa have now become the third team to qualify for the semifinals, following in the footsteps of Atletico de Kolkata and Delhi Dynamos.
Kerala Blasters are rooted to the bottom of the table with 12 points from 13 matches and are now officially out of the competition.
FC Goa went into this match knowing that a win will take them to the second spot and ensure a place in the semi-finals. But the visitors were rocked early in the game when they went down just two minutes into the game. Kerala Blasters raced ahead when Chris Dagnall played a ball forward for Victor Pulga who found Antonio German on the right. The striker got past one defender and then cut it back for Pulga who finished well from an acute angle at the first post.
FC were not rattled by the early setback and were passing the ball around well. They found their success in the 12th minute through Jofre Gonzalez who silenced the crowd after he was at the right end of a brilliant through ball from Reinaldo and, left unmarked inside the box, finished with a right footer from close range.
The equalizer saw FC Goa playing with their tails up and it was no surprise that the visitors took the lead for the first time in the 29th minute. This time it was Brazilian striker Reinaldo who scored the goal and another Brazilian, Leo Moura, set it up. It was Moura himself who started the move with Mandar Rao Desai on the left and after receiving the ball back, left the Kerala Blasters defence for dead with a delightful through ball that Reinaldo intercepted and slotted it inside the goal.
Kerala Blasters were reduced to 10 men at the stroke of half time after Josue Currais was involved in a tussle with Jofre. It was a result of a previous altercation between the two players and Josue ended shoving Jofre to the ground which the referee spotted and promptly flashed the red card at the Kerala Blasters midfielder.
With a man advantage, FC Goa were always going to be favourites in this match and the visitors increased their lead in the 53rd minute. Jofre released Mandar on the left and the FC Goa midfielder relayed a ball across the goal where Reinaldo responded with a simple tap from just a yard out.
Reinaldo completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute and then Mandar opened his account four minutes later to complete the rout.