ISL 2020:21: Kerala Blasters players showed a lot of character after the red card – Kibu Vicuna

Kerala Blasters FC secured their second win of the Hero Indian Super League 2020:21 season against Jamshedpur FC as they won the thrilling match by 3-2 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Sunday. Costa Nhamoinesu gave the lead to Kerala Blasters in the 22nd minute when the Zimbabwean scored with a header but also injured himself in his attempt.

Jamshedpur FC talisman Nerijus Valskis equalized for his team when he scored from a freekick spot in the 36th minute. However, Kerala Blasters once again took the lead in the 79th minute when Jordan Murray scored the second goal for his team.

Murray soon got a gift from Jamshedpur FC goalkeeper TP Rehenesh as he fumbled an easy ball in the 82nd minute and the Australian scored his brace. Nerijus Valskis soon got one back for Jamshedpur FC in the 84th minute after an assist from Mohammad Mobasir but it was too late for his team.

Kerala Blasters head coach Kibu Vicuna was delighted with the performance of his team and stated that his players showed a lot of character after the red card was given to Lalruatthara in the 67th minute of the game.

“We believed that we could win the match. Since the beginning we have been fighting for three points. We started well and scored from a set-piece. Second half was very even. It was going to be difficult to win the match (after the red card) but we showed character. We showed that we are a very competitive team and I am very happy that we got the three points,” Vicuna said.

It hasn’t been an ideal season for Kerala Blasters thus far as they have lost five matches out of the 10 they have played whereas three games have ended in a draw. Vicuna is hopeful that this win over Jamshedpur FC will be the turning point for his team in the ongoing edition.

“I believe in my team and I believe that we can play good football and get good results. Hopefully this win will be the turning point of the season,” he said. 

Vicuna heaped praise on the collective team effort and he is hopeful that they can continue the good show. Kerala Blasters will next face SC East Bengal at the same venue of Tilak Maidan Stadium on 15th of January.