(Football news) Kerala Blasters FC secured their second consecutive win in the Indian Super League after defeating Chennaiyin FC 3-0 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday. With this result, the Yellow Army rose to third place on the league table while Chennaiyin FC dropped to sixth place after losing their second game this season. Kerala Blasters were given a lead through Jorge Pereyra Diaz in the ninth minute after he scored his third goal of the season. Sahal Abdul Samad doubled the lead in the 38th minute while Adrian Luna scored his first goal of the season and the third goal of the match in the 79th minute to ensure his side secured all three points. 

Jorge Diaz gave Kerala Blasters the lead when a lofted ball found the striker in ample space and his right footed shot directed towards the bottom left corner went past Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Vishal Kaith and into the back of the net. Just before the half hour mark, Kerala Blasters goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill was forced to make a magnificent right handed save to keep the ball from going into the back of the net from his own defender. Chennaiyin FC’s Germanpreet Singh could have levelled the score before the drinks break but his shot from 12 yards out went wide. 

Kerala Blasters then extended their lead through Sahal Abdul Samad in the 38th minute by capitalizing on a poor clearance from Chennaiyin goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. The 24 year old’s initial shot was blocked by Reagan Singh but the midfielder scored on the rebound. Álvaro Vázquez could have increased the lead to three goals just before half-time when he had a one-on-one opportunity but the Spaniard failed to beat the goalkeeper. Chennaiyin FC manager Bozidar Bandovic introduced Salam Singh and Lukasz Gikiewicz after half-time to try and turn the tide of the game. Kerala Blasters’ Lalthathanga Khawlhring was the first player to be booked in the match when the 23 year old midfielder received a yellow card for a foul.

The second half saw Adrian Luna unleash a powerful right footed strike after a lack of communication amongst the Chennaiyin FC players. CFC manager Bozidar Bandovic will be disappointed with his team’s overall display as their first real chance came only after the second drinks break. Kerala Blasters will next face Jamshedpur FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Sunday, 26th December while Chennaiyin FC will battle it out against Bengaluru FC on Thursday, 30th December.

Also read: Hyderabad FC hoping to close on leaders Mumbai City FC