Mohun Bagan SG remind Kerala Blasters why they’re ISL leaders with drubbing in Kochi

The reason for the gap between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters in the ISL points table was evident from the first half in Kochi, in which the visitors took a 2-0 lead. The script remained unaltered in the next 45 too, in which the visitors added another to win 3-0. 

Jamie Maclaren scored in the 28th and 40th minutes to put the Super Giant in control of the game. For the Blasters, the first half was a reminder of the 22 points (now 25) that separated them—reeling in the eighth position—from the league leaders.

Alberto Rodriguez Martin fired the third on the night in the 66th minute. The Super Giant took four shots and scored thrice, while the Blasters held 66% possession and still remained goalless.

The Kolkata giants have 49 points from 21 matches and remain 10 points clear of second-placed FC Goa. The Blasters have 24 points from 20 matches, and more importanly, remain 7 points short of sixth-placed Mumbai City. The Blasters' chance of qualifying for the playoffs get slimmer with each game. 

Blasters goalkeeper Sachin Suresh was at fault for the first goal. He lost his balance just when he should have been the most focused. Sachin fell backwards as he spread his legs and tried to narrow the angle for Maclaren, who was poised to pull the trigger about five feet from the goal.

Maclaren didn't toy with the hapless opponent and hammered the ball into the roof of the net.

The Blasters tacticians must study how the Liston Colaco found Maclaren unmarked because the talented Indian winger slipped past a pair of defenders before finding the Australian.

For the second goal, though, there wasn't much Sachin could have done even as he tried his best with an acrobatic effort. Jason Cummings read his teammate's mind as he played a back pass and turned his marker. The midfielder dinked a perfect ball over the Blasters' defence, and Maclaren displayed immaculate technique as he poked a volley over the advancing Sachin.

This happened at the end of a wave of attacks launched by the Blasters. Vishal Kaith stood tall to thwart Amawia from 12 yards, while Korou Singh was denied by a pair of clearances from Subhasish Bose planted in front of his keeper.