There was euphoria at one end of the pitch in Kochi on Thursday as Kerala Blasters snatched a winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time in the second half to win the game 2-1. At the other end, there was outrage and fury as FC Goa players and officials hounded the officials.

Goa were on the front foot in the game and went ahead through Rafael Coelho's header in the ninth minute. Grégory Arnolin's sending off resulted in a penalty for the Blasters, which was tucked away by Kervens Belfort. CK Vineeth, who came on as a second half substitute landed the winner after Goa keeper Lakxmikant Kattimani put up a fighting display to clear the the home side's attacks, who looked threatening as soon as they had a man's advantage.

Nine minutes from time, Goa had another man sent off as Richarlyson was handed his second yellow. However, Goa did quite well to cope with the Blasters pressure even then, and for the most part, cleared out the balls that were floated into the box.

Despite having quick players in the front three, the Blasters flattered to deceive in the final third and failed to take advantage of the gaps that opened up in the Goa defence in the second half.

Zico's side went into the lead when Goa's hero from the last game, Coelho punished a Blasters defence that momentarily lost their concentration from a precise Richarlyson free-kick. The Brazilian striker's header was on target, but Blasters' keeper Graham Slack should have been doing a lot better than letting the ball squirm between his legs and into the goal.

There was no lack of intensity in the game the players bravely went for the ball and Gregory was playing with his head covered in a bandage mid-way through the first half.

Two minutes into the second half, Blasters got into the game when the referee pointed to the spot when he thought Gregory had handled the ball in the box. The Frenchman was trying to withdraw his hand from the shot and it is debatable whether a red card was necessary. Belfort calmly converted the penalty to send Kattimani the other way to help Blasters get back in the game.

Mohammed Rafi and Mohammad Rafique fluffed clear-cut chances to put Blasters in the lead. For Goa, it came down to getting a point from the contest after the sending offs. Blasters kept pressuring the Goa backline and Cedric Hengbart's flick-on found Vineeth, who bundled the ball into the net with the outside of his left foot.

Brief score:

Kerala Blasters 2 (Kervens Belfort, CK Vineeth) beat FC Goa 1 (Rafael Coelho)