Kerala Blasters picked up a 1-0 win against NorthEast United in a high-voltage clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi to storm into the semi-finals of the Indian Super League.
The Blasters, who needed just a point to progress to the knockout stages produced a game of high-intensity and it was their man-in-form, CK Vineeth who came up with the goal with a clinical strike with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Coming into the game on the back of a good run of form, United failed to create enough clear-cut openings and were kept out of harm’s way by the steely Blasters defence.
While the two sets of players were aggressive in retrieving possession, there was little to talk about in terms of goal-scoring opportunities in the first half. Duckens Nazon, though, nearly put the home side in the lead early in the game but his shot from close range after sneaking into the box from the left flank was kept out by TP Rehenesh.
United pushed up in search of goals but also ended up leaving plenty of space at the back, which the Blasters duly capitalised on. Despite being closely watched, United talisman Emiliano Alfaro was a constant threat in the box and the only efforts from the Highlanders came from from from the Uruguayan.
Vineeth’s goal stunned United and the Blasters got a slew of chances to double the lead, only to be denied by Rehenesh at his very best. Nazon, Vineeth and substitute Antonio German had attempts on target. Mohammed Rafi smashed the frame of the goal with four minutes left on the clock while United looked deflated and lost their cool on a number of occasions.
With the win, the Blasters (22 points) have also dislodged Delhi Dynamos (21 points) and Atletico de Kolkata (20 points) to jump to the second spot in the table. Dynamos are third while ATK finished fourth.
First-placed Mumbai City FC will face ATK in the first semi-final while Dynamos and Blasters clash in the second.
Brief score:
Kerala Blasters 1 (CK Vineeth) beat NorthEast United 0