(Football news) Kerala Blasters moved one step closer to the finals of the Indian Super League with a 1-0 win over Jamshedpur FC thanks to a goal by Sahal Abdul Samad at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Friday. Sahal’s goal in the 38th minute was enough for Kerala Blasters to seal the win and it easily could have been 2-0 if Adrian Luna’s freekick hit the target instead of the woodwork. 

Having already won the League Shield, Jamshedpur FC were in a confident mood heading into the match but looked off-colour right from kick off as Daniel Chima Chukwu squandered two chances in the first half while Greg Stewart also wasn’t effective in the final third. The second leg will be played on March 15th but Kerala Blasters will hope to capitalise on their advantage and be solid defensively in order to achieve the desired result. 

Jamshedpur FC started the match with Daniel Chima Chukwu missing a good opportunity from close range after Pronay Halder headed down a T.P. Rehenesh freekick from inside their own half but the in-form Nigerian’s volley couldn’t find the target. Chima had another opportunity to make amends when Halder did well to win the ball back from Puitea but the seasoned striker left his scoring boots at home and couldn’t hit the target once again. 

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC’s Seiminlen Doungel was forced to be substituted due to injury and was replaced by birthday boy Mobashir Rahman. The impact of the substitution was instantaneous as Mobashir found the near post from a Stewart freekick which was clearly a move from the training ground. However, the move failed in the end as Jamshedpur FC’s frustrations grew.

As for Kerala Blasters, Leskovic organised the defence well and made some important interceptions as the Red Miners continued to attack relentlessly while their opponents adopted the strategy of attacking on the counter. Alvaro Vazquez spotted Sahal making a run and provided a brilliant ball which Ricky Lallawmawma unsuccessfully tried to clear, resulting in Sahal dinking the ball over an advancing Rehenesh.

The second half had a slow start until Adrian Luna’s free kick came from inside the post after T.P. Rehenesh got a glove to it before the hour mark. Jamshedpur FC also had an opportunity to equalise through Ritwik Das but his effort went over the bar after Stewart and substitute Jordan Murray combined well. Ishan Pandita also squandered an opportunity three minutes from time, thereby ensuring that Kerala Blasters held the advantage ahead of the 2nd leg.

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