FC Goa waltzes past Kerala Blasters

November 27, 2014 12:10 am | Updated November 16, 2021 04:44 pm IST - Margao:

In spite of his many saves — like the one in this picture — David James was unable to stop FC Goa from scoring thrice. — PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHY

In spite of his many saves — like the one in this picture — David James was unable to stop FC Goa from scoring thrice. — PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHY

Andre Santos delivered an accomplished individual performance as FC Goa waltzed 3-0 past Kerala Blasters in the Hero Indian Super League here on Wednesday.

A boisterous full-house at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda was treated to three second-half goals, which helped Goa leapfrog the visitor into third place on the table (on goal difference). Miroslav Slepicka scored the first and the third — 16 minutes apart — with Santos’s effort sandwiched in between.

“I have played in this position before. Credit to Zico for knowing that and putting me here,” said Santos afterwards.

Hitherto, the popular image of Santos has been one of a frustrating, misguided left-back with an occasionally powerful left foot. Reconfigured into a number 10 in the ISL, the Brazilian has had a better time, demonstrating unexpected subtlety.

Here, he was at the heart of the team’s attacking moves, driving forward and picking out delightful passes.

He set up the opener with a floating free-kick from the left side of the area, which Slepicka tapped in at the far post.

It relieved frustration that had been building up for an hour, and a little later, Santos had his own goal, exchanging passes with Romeo Fernandes before neatly finishing past David James.

Kerala, bereft of energy and invention throughout, was deflated by the time Slepicka swept his second — and the team’s third — into the net.

The first half was largely dreary, the tedium broken sporadically by charges on the Blasters goal. Eight minutes in, Tolgay Ozbey was sprung free down the inside-left channel. The Australian’s shot, however, struck the upright. James was forced into further action from the resulting corner, when he palmed Haroon Amiri’s glancing header over.

Goa pressed forward with greater zeal towards the end of the first period. Santos sent Mandar Rao Desai through on goal, but James came to his side’s rescue again.

The Blasters goalkeeper could have been embarrassed a couple of minutes later, when he came out to collect a high ball and found himself sprawled on the grass. With no ’keeper in goal, Santos aimed a curling shot at the top corner but Gurwinder Singh was on the line to head over.

Blasters showed little urgency or enterprise in the opening half. Iain Hume and Milagres Gonsalves were brought on at the interval, but it made little difference as Goa snapped Blasters’ five-match unbeaten streak.

The result: FC Goa 3 (Miroslav Slepicka 63, 79, Andre Santos 69) bt Kerala Blasters 0.

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