FC Goa 3-1 Kerala Blasters Highlights, ISL 2022-23: Gaurs secure comfortable win to keep playoff hopes alive

Welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the Indian Super League match between FC Goa and Kerala Blasters being performed on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao Goa.

MATCH REPORT: ISL 2022-23: FC Goa beats Kerala Blasters 3-1 to stay within the play-off race 

MATCH PREVIEW

FC Goa will likely be keen to place its current four-game winless run within the Indian Super League (ISL) to relaxation when it takes on Kerala Blasters on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Sunday.

The Gaurs are presently occupying the ultimate playoff spot and discover themselves only one level away from Bengaluru FC. The Blasters, however, will likely be competing with ATK Mohun Bagan for the third spot with solely a few factors separating the 2 sides.

FC Goa’s current type has been a worrying issue for the group. Last week, Carlos Pena’s males had been held to a 2-2 draw by NorthEast United FC.

Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC have their eyes on the ultimate playoff spot and FC Goa will likely be wanting so as to add just a few factors to its tally and pull away from the stress of the sixth-place race. The Gaurs will likely be again residence for this conflict. They have carried out effectively on residence soil this season after shedding solely two out of six residence video games.

Iker Guarrotxena will likely be a key determine within the midfield, proper behind the striker for FC Goa. The Spaniard has scored six objectives in 14 appearances this season. Up entrance, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see who Pena picks between Noah Sadaoui and Alvaro Vazquez.

“In professional football, there is always pressure from the first game. We always knew the playoff race would be tough because, with six spots, many teams joined the fight, but I’m not worried,” mentioned Pena. “I’m busy trying to keep the belief strong in my team. Tomorrow is a very important game for us, and I expect to see the best version of my team during the match,” he added.

Kerala Blasters FC will likely be again in Hero ISL motion after two weeks. The Blasters have had 13 days after their club-record unbeaten streak of eight video games was ended with a 4-0 rout by the hands of Mumbai City FC of their final sport.

Despite the setback, Ivan Vukomanovic’s males are nonetheless in third place on the desk, and one other win will see them pull eight factors away from FC Goa and the final playoff spot. The Blasters have misplaced solely two of their six away video games this season. One of these got here within the final encounter in opposition to the Islanders.

All eyes will likely be on Dimitrios Diamantakos as he seems so as to add extra objectives and contributions to his tally. In 13 matches to date, the Greek striker has scored six objectives and registered three assists. With six purpose contributions to his identify, Adrian Luna may even be a menace for the FC Goa defenders.

“At the end of the season, you are in a spot you deserve. So far, Mumbai is the very best in the league. They beat everybody, so they are at the top of the table. Us? We are undergoing changes with new objectives,” mentioned Vukomanovic. “We are third on the table now with seven big games to go. We cannot afford to be casual because any team can beat you in this league. Our objective is to be in the playoffs and fight for the trophy,” he added.

FC Goa and Kerala Blasters have locked horns 17 occasions within the Hero ISL and the previous have emerged victorious on 9 events, whereas the latter have received 4 occasions. In the reverse fixture earlier this season, the Blasters beat FC Goa 3-1 in Kochi.