ISL 2015: Kerala Blasters 1-5 FC Goa- 5 Talking Points
Runners-up from the inaugural season of the ISL, Kerala Blasters, were subjected to a humiliating 5-1 defeat by a rampant FC Goa, in their own backyard, the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi. The Blasters went in front early on through midfielder Pulga, but the visitors came from behind to score five. Reinaldo scored a hat-trick while Joffre and Mandar Dessai scored the other two for Goa.The win assures Goa a birth the semi-final play-offs as they stand second with 22 points in the league table, while Kerala Blasters crash out, still remaining rooted to the foot of the table. Here are the major talking points from match number 50 of the Hero Indian Super League.
#1 Reinaldos stellar performance heats up the race for the golden boot
Reinaldo Oliveira was on song at Kochi, scoring 3 and assisting another playing a major role in Goa’s emphatic 5-1 victory. The Brazilian took home the match ball after bagging one of the easiest hat-tricks that anyone will ever score, tapping in all his 3 goals from close distance.
For Goa’s equalizer, Reinaldo played in Joffre with a deft touch, beyond the reach of Blasters’ defender, Peter Ramage.
Reinaldo’s first goal of the night came on the half hour mark when some neat interplay between Leo Moura and Mandar, played him through on goal. His second and the third came in the second half, both of which were easy tap-ins.
Reinaldo joined the race for the Golden boot with his hat-trick helping him up to third in the standings for the personal honour. The Brazilian now has 7 goals and is right on the heels of Iain Hume and Stiven Mendoza who have 9 and 10 goals respectively.