FC Goa and Kerala Blasters played out a 2-2 draw in the first game of the new year. Here are the three key talking points from the first half goalfest.
Jorge Ortiz named hero of the match
The FC Goa striker picked up the hero of the match award, and scored the first goal for his team to drag them back into the game. The forward almost earned a penalty for his team in the second half, but the decision ultimately went against him.
Ortiz not only scored the first goal, but also created a number of chances for his teammates throughout the game.
A game of two halves
The first half flew by, with four goals scored in a matter of 38 minutes. Both teams were intent on exploiting the opposition’s defense, and they did so remarkably well, with a great end result.
However, the second half failed to live up to expectations with both teams tightening up the defense. Goa were the better team in the second half, but they were unable to take advantage of their better performances.
Key points dropped for Kerala Blasters against FC Goa?
Kerala Blasters have set themselves up as competitors for a top four spot in the first half of the season. But, dropping two points against FC Goa means that they have a slight disadvantage in the playoff race now.
The extent of the damage will be revealed by the performances of the other clubs near the top of the table.