KOCHI, Dec 4: Kerala Blasters FC entered the semifinals of Hero Indian Super League 2016 after beating NorthEast United FC 1-0 in front of almost 54,000 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday. CK Vineeth�s solitary goal in the 66th minute proved to be enough for the 2014 runners-up.
Kerala had the first chance of the game after Duckens Nazon dispossessed Mailson Alves close to NorthEast�s box in the fourth minute. The Haitian forward then narrowed in on goal from the left with space in front of him but TP Rehenesh made the save for the visitors to deny the Blasters an early lead.
The Highlanders� first shot on target came in the 18th minute with Seityasen Singh firing in a left-footed effort from distance that was straight down Graham Stack�s throat in goal. Romaric was next to try his luck from range for NorthEast but his shot failed to test Stack this time. Rowllin Borges also had a volley from outside the box soon after that flew high above the crossbar.
Romaric went close to making the breakthrough in the 34th minute after NorthEast were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area just outside the box. The Ivorian�s attempt from the free-kick though flew inches above the crossbar to the joy of the home support.
The last chance of the half also went the visitors� way in stoppage-time when a loose ball fell nicely for Seityasen just outside the penalty area. His shot, however, was always on the rise and never looked like troubling Stack in goal as both teams headed into the tunnel goalless after a nervy opening half.
After a slow start to the second half, NorthEast created the first opening in the 58th minute as Katsumi Yusa threaded in a good ball for Emiliano Alfaro to run onto. However, Stack was quick off his line to thwart the threat. Alfaro was denied by Stack a minute later as the Uruguayan�s goal-bound effort from a Seityasen pass was parried away by the Irishman.
Kerala took the lead in the 66th minute courtesy of some individual brilliance from Vineeth. The pacey winger cut infield from the left flank and rifled his shot from outside the box past Rehenesh to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
The Blasters could have doubled the advantage two minutes later when Kervens Belfort cut in from the right flank before shooting straight at Rehenesh with his left-foot. Belfort then ran at NorthEast�s defence in the 72nd minute and managed to register a shot on target. Rehenesh tipped the ball over the bar to keep his side in the game. The Highlanders� custodian was being kept busy by the home side and had to make another save three minutes later to deny substitute Antonio German his first goal of the season.
NorthEast had a rare effort on goal nine minutes from full-time when Alves rose highest to meet a corner. The Brazilian centre-back�s header was straight at Stack and ended up being a routine save for the Irish keeper. Alfaro came closest to finding an equaliser in the 84th minute when he fired in a shot from distance that shaved the post.
Kerala also hit the woodwork three minutes later when Mohammed Rafi�s header from close range was tipped onto the crossbar by Rehenesh. However, NorthEast failed to muster any serious threat in the closing stages of the game as Kerala entered the semis and set up a date with Delhi Dynamos FC. � Agencies
