ISL 2018-19: Delhi Dynamos FC and Kerala Blasters FC share the spoils
Kerala Blasters and Delhi Dynamos have met each other ten times with the former winning five of those contests while Dynamos won three ties
 "Kerala Blasters FC vs Delhi Dynamos FC")
Kerala Blasters FC vs Delhi Dynamos FC (Photo: indiansuperleague.com)
Full-report: Serbian Andrija Kaludjerovic struck late in the match to cancel out CK Vineeth's 47th-minute goal, forcing Kerala Blasters FC to share points with Delhi Dynamos at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
Delhi started brightly and controlled the proccedings and possession for a fairly good amount of time. The visitors attacked from the flanks but some good defending from Chennai players, especially Jhingan, kept the scoreline 0-0 in the first half.
Kerala gradually came out of their shell in the final 10 minutes. In the 34th minute, Vineeth got a chance to for a tap-in but failed to connect properly. The chance wasn't over yet and Stojanovic lined up to fire from the right side of the box but his effort could only find the side-netting.
Delhi's best chance came in the 40th minute when Mhalic found Romeo with a great ball down the right flank. Romeo got inside the box and pulled it back for Gianni Zuiverloon who dragged his effort wide, hence fluffing Delhi's best chance.
The contest became an even one as the half-time approached. Delhi continue to look to dominate possession and carve out chances while Kerala looked to hit the visitors on the counter.
Kerala started the second-half in an entirely opposite fashion and attacked from the word go while keeping possession. The positive game soon showed result as Vineeth scored within two minutes of the game's restart. Sloppy defending by Delhi on a corner allowed Vineeth to receive the ball with his back to the goal, turn and slide it inside the goalpost to break the deadlock.
The home team had the opportunity to double their lead in the 63rd minute when they caught Delhi on a break and created a 4 vs 3 situation. Poplatnik slid a pass to Vineeth on the left flank but the goal-scorer's shot tame shot could only earn a corner.
Delhi's goal came in the 83rd minute after Kerala captain Sandesh Jhingan went on the ground after a cramp. Jhingan's injury left space inside the box and Kaludjerovic capitalised on it to jump the highest and get at the end of a cross from the other end of the box to head it in and make it 1-1.
Kerala continued to push but couldn't restore their lead. Although, they did have a legitimate call for a penalty turned down in the 91st minute when Vineeth bolted inside the box and was bundled over by Kotal, prompting Kerala coach David James to slam his hat on the ground on the sidelines.
The draw sends Kerala to the second spot of the table with five points while Delhi Dynamos languish at the eighth place with a couple of draws and a loss. For Kerala though, the scneraio will be what would it have been if the penalty call was given.
9:24 PM
Minute 90+3 -- Players down inside the Delhi box. Stojanovic and Narayan Das clash vying for a ball and are now receiving treatment
9:21 PM
Minute 90+1 -- Vineeth again bolts inside the box and Kotal goes on a rash challenge that bundles Vineeth over. The referee though thinks it's not a penalty and leaves David James on the sidelines absolutely furious
9:20 PM
Minute 90 -- Five minutes of additional time
9:19 PM
Minute 89 -- Carmona goes on a mazy dribble and slides in a beautiful pass for Vikramjit who looks to round the goalkeeper before the linesman raises his flag. The replay shows that the linesman might have got it wrong, or at least it would have been a tight call
9:17 PM
Minute 87 (SUBSTITUTION FOR DELHI) -- Gharami goes out for Dhot
9:17 PM
Minute 87 -- Poplatnik rushes into the box and gets a part of his foot to the cross but that's about it
9:17 PM
Minute 87 -- Poplatnik rushes into the box and gets a part of his foot to the cross but that's about it
9:14 PM
Minute 83 (GOAL!!) -- Delhi get their goal! It's 1-1! Jhinga is down with a cramp and that leaves Kaludjerovic with ample of space to work with when he receives a ball near the left goalpost and heads in the corner which comes his way
9:10 PM
Minute 81 -- Carmona frees up some space for himself and gets underneath a shot from outside the box but it always flying up and over the crossbar
9:09 PM
Minute 80 -- Final 10 minutes of normal time coming your way and it's still 1-0 in Kerala's favour, courtsey a goal by Vineeth early in the second half. Can Delhi mount a comeback?
9:06 PM
Minute 77 (SUBSTITUTION FOR KERALA) -- Kizito Keziron comes in for Doungel
9:04 PM
Minute 75 -- Kerala goalkeeper Naveen Kumar is bundled over by Pritam Kotal as both vyed for an incoming cross
9:03 PM
Minute 72 -- A fine chance for Delhi! Andrija Kaludjerovic drives into the box but puts in a lame pass at the end of it with Pesic waiting in the wake
9:00 PM
Minute 71 -- Chennai attack down the left flank with Vineeth who gets the ball across but it's dreictly into the hands of the goalkeeper
8:59 PM
Minute 70 -- Carmona pulls the trigger from inside the box. His shot takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.
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First Published: Oct 20 2018 | 6:19 PM IST
