ISl 2018-19: Inspired subs rescue Kerala Blasters FC against Jamshedpur FC

The draw sends Jamshedpur to the fourth spot with seven points from five games while Kerala stay in the seventh spot with six points from four games

8:46 PM

Minute 54 (PENALTY!!)-- Sahal puts in a beautiful long ball and Stanovic makes a diagonal run from the left and goes down inside the box under a challenge. Stanovic takes the penalty and fires it on the left side but Subrata Paul gusses it corrcetly and parries it away for corner

8:44 PM

Minute 53 -- Sossairaj does well to earn possession in the Kerala half then lay it off for Tim Cahill who has space to work with but is closed down by Sahal who has looked bright ever since coming off the bench

8:42 PM

Minute 50 -- Kerala's Sahal shimmies past a couple Jamshepdur defenders and lays it off for Poplatnik who drags back the ball to get away from a defender then shoots with his left foot but his effort brushes past the top of the crossbar for a goal-kick

8:39 PM

Minute 49 -- Kerala passing the ball around in their own half, but it's what they can do with it higher up the pitch that matter

8:35 PM

(SUBSTITUTIONS FOR KERALA) -- David James makes double substitution. Sahal comes in for Lalruatthara and Cyril Kali replaces Kizito

8:34 PM

Second half begins

8:28 PM

Half-time report: Jamshedpur FC are 2-0 ahead in front of their home fans against Kerala Blasters FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur as Tim Cahill got off the mark in ISL 2018-19 by scoring off a header in the third minute.

 

Jamshedpur got a corner and Cidoncha put in an outswinging delivery and Cahill moved away from his his marker to put in a diving header and make it 1-0 in favour of Jamshedpur.

 

The home team got their second goal, courtseu a beautiful strike by Soosairaj in the 31st minute. Cido got at the end of a throw-in near the Chennai box and played it on for Soosairaj who drove inside the box on the left and curled a powerful shot inside the side-netting of the far post!

 

Kerala tried to recover by slowing the tempo of the game and building from the back but incessant pressing from Jamshedpur -- who haven't been too clincial in their passing either -- has prevented them from getting a goal.

 

So far, Jamshedpur have outdone their opponents who are yet to have a shot on goal in reply to the home team's five tries. David James' team will need to step up if they want to get anything from this match.

8:19 PM

Minute 45+1 -- Raju gets the ball just outside the Kerala box. He is all alone and takes his time on the ball before floating in a cross that's headed away for a corner

8:18 PM

Minute 45 -- One minute of additional time in the first half

8:17 PM

Minute 42 -- Kerala are yet to take a shot in the first half and that shows how effective Jamshedpur have been in pressing the visitors who have looked to get their game going by stringing together a few passes

8:13 PM

Minute 41 -- Another chance for Jamshedpur. Cahill Soosairaj floats in a cross from the left to Cidoncha who essentially has a free header at hand but he puts his effort wide of the near post.

8:10 PM

Minute 37 -- Jamshedpur pass around among themselves before quickly moving into the Kerala box where Arques pull soff a backheel to release Soosairaj who gets inside the box and byline but can't create a chance this time

8:05 PM

Minute 31 (GOAL!!) -- Michael Soosairaj with a stunner for Jamshedpur!! Cido gets at the end of a throw-in near the Chennai box and plays it on for Soosairaj who gets inside the box on the left and curls a powerful shot inside the side-netting of the far post! Jamshedpur 2-Kerala 0

8:03 PM

Minute 30 -- Better from Kerala who finally get into the Jamshedpur box but Stojanovic's shot is put out for corner by Arques

8:00 PM

Minute 27 -- The last five minutes, Kerala have moved hte ball around well but the lack of incisive pass in the attacking third means they are still trailing