KOCHI: In the pre-match press conference before his side’s clash against NorthEast United FC, Kerala Blasters head coach Rene Meulensteen couldn’t stress enough on how a first win would work wonders for him and his players.
His boys responded at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on Friday, handing the gaffer exactly that: full three points for the first time this season.
CK Vineeth, on his return from a one-match suspension, headed in in the 24th minute. It wasn’t soon before the visitors were reduced to 10 men, with goalkeeper TP Rehenesh forced to take an early bath.
Floodgates were expected to open with Blasters having the numerical advantage, but that was not the case as the home side had to sweat for securing a 1-0 victory.
Wes Brown made his much-anticipated ISL debut, playing in the defensive midfield zone, while Siam Hanghal was also deployed in the centre against his former outfit. Meanwhile, former Blasters employee Nirmal Chettri was in the backline for NorthEast, and behind him was local boy Rehenesh.
Marcinho was the first to test the Blasters, firing a shot at goal that was parried away by keeper Paul Rachubka in the fifth minute. In the 18th, NorthEast’s Danilo had his effort blocked by Nemanja Lakic-Pesic after he found some space inside the box and strung together passes with fellow Brazilian Marcinho.
Despite the opponents having half-chances, Blasters were playing some of their best football of the season in the early parts of the game.
They were rewarded for that with Vineeth’s goal. It was his mate Rino Anto who dashed forward on the right and supplied a sublime cross that the attacker made sure went in off his head.
The dynamics were altered further in the 43rd minute after Rehenesh was dubiously sent off for a foul on Mark Sifneos. Courage Pekuson had launched Sifneos into a counter and Rehenesh charged off his line to foul the Dutch forward.
Though Sifneos recovered and had the goal at his mercy, the referee instead halted the game and produced a red for Rehenesh.
Ravi Kumar, who guarded the goal in Rehenesh’s absence, was a busy man in the second period. Pekuson tested the keeper in the 47th minute, but Kumar closed down the attacker in time. In the 57th minute, though, it was the woodwork that came to the away side’s rescue by denying young full-back Lalruatthara.
NorthEast could have grabbed an equaliser in the 72nd minute, but Rino threw himself at a Danilo attempt from close range. Three minutes from full time, Danilo flicked an Odair Fortes corner at the near post and Nirmal failed to connect with it at the other end by a whisker.
Skipper Sandesh Jhingan, Rino and Jackhichand Singh had all come close to finding Kerala’s second in the second half. But they failed, and the hosts had to soak in a late flurry from the visitors. They did so successfully, to the relief of Meulensteen, who was seen celebrating passionately with his wards.
adwaidh@newindianexpress.com