As it happened: Kerala Blasters FC vs FC Goa, ISL Match 50

Reinaldo scores a hat-trick as FC Goa thrash Kerala Blasters 5-1 to book a semis spot.

Three minutes added before full time.

84 mins: The attack index for the fifth period just shows how one-sided this game has been. During the 61st to the 75th minute, the visitors had three shots on goal. They are ahead with a massive 88%.

74 mins: Joffre tries his luck with a shot from outside the box. It was on target but straight down the throat of the keeper.

Goal! Reinaldo scores a hat-trick to give FC Goa 4-1 lead against Kerala Blasters.

56 mins: Pulga forces a sharp save out of Laxmikant Kattimani. He goes to place the ball into the top corner but Laxmikant Kattimani stretches well to deny the midfielder.

Goal! Reinaldo scores his second in the 50th min. FC Goa 3-1 Kerala Blasters FC.

50 mins: Kerala Blasters FC, despite being down to 10 men, are doing really well to keep possession. The problem is, all their passes are sideways passes and back passes. They need to be more adventerous and try to find a gap through the FC Goa defence.

The second-half kicks off in Kochi.

Goals from Joffre and Reinaldo give Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 lead against FC Goa.

37 mins: Chris Dagnall gets a good chance on the right as he finds himself in a shooting position in the box. He tries to blast it across the keeper towards the far post but the connection all wrong. The ball went way wide of target there. Laxmikant Kattimani will be happy if this kind of shots are fired towards him.

Goal! Reinaldo scores in the 29th minute to give Kerala Blasters 2-1 lead against FC Goa.

20 mins: Antonio German finds himself in a good position in the box. However, he is surrounded by two defenders and just can't wriggle his way through.

15 mins: Arnolin Gregory sticks his leg out in the box and Rafi goes down. Shout for a penalty but the referee sees nothing wrong with the challenge. Replays showed that there was contact. FC Goa can count themselves lucky not to concede a penalty.

Goal! Joffre scores in the 12th min. Kerala Blasters 1-1 FC Goa.

10 mins: The Blasters have had 85% of the possession so far. FC Goa really need to start keeping possession in order to create chances of their own. At the moment, all they are doing is running after the ball.

Another early goal for the Blasters! Pulga puts his team ahead! It's his first ever goal and boy what a time to score! Antonio German did all the work from the right wing, he cut into the box and squared the ball into the box. Pulga took a first time shot and guided the ball into the near post. Nothing the keeper could do there, FC Goa have a game to chase now!

Goal! Victor Pulga scores in the 2nd minute to give Kerala Blasters 1-0 lead against FC Goa.

Its kick-off time in Kochi. Kerala Blasters FC set the ball rolling and are doing well to keep the possession so far. FC Goa are putting good pressure on them and have forced the home team to go all the way back.

6:55pm: The home team have made three changes to their side. Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater replaces Sandip, Peter Carvalho comes in for Joao Coimbra while Rafi gets a start up front. Mehtab Hossain sees himself on the bench for this one. On the other hand, FC Goa have made just the two changes to their starting eleven. Joffre and Debabrata Roy replace Dudu and Raju Gaikwad.

Starting XIs

FC Goa: Laxmikant Kattimani (GK), Leo Moura, Lucio (C), Arnolin Gregory, Debabrata Roy, Pronay Halder, Jonatan Lucca, C S Sabeeth, Joffre, Mandar Dessai, Reinaldo.

Kerala Blasters FC: Stephen Bywater (GK), Deepak, Peter Ramage (C), Sandesh Jhingan, Saumik, Pulga, Peter Carvalho, Josu, Rafi, Chris Dagnall, Antonio German.

6:50pm: Kerala Blasters have found a midfielder in Josu who has been brilliant in attack as well as in defence. With 3 assists and a goal to his name, Josu has already become a name to be reckoned with, in The Blasters side. He isn’t sloppy in defence either, with 12 interceptions and 18 clearances, Josu has the ability to nip the attack in the bud or track back to defend. Kerala would be hoping for an inspired performance from Josu in the upcoming matches, if they wish to secure a spot in the final four.

Second placed FC Goa will push further for a semi-final spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) when they face bottom-placed Kerala Blasters, who find themselves in a complicated mathematical situation and can only hope for a super miracle.

Kerala are at the bottom of the pool with 12 points from 12 matches and will look at finishing their league engagements respectfully. They need to win both their remaining matches and hope NorthEast vs Pune and Pune vs Chennaiyin FC) matches result in draws.