Bedia's header helps FC Goa defeat Kerala Blasters 2-1

David James made three changes to the side that lost to Jamshedpur FC with Siam Hanghal, Rino Anto and Jackichand Singh coming in for Kizito Keziron, Samuel Shadap and Karan Sawhney. In-form Iain Hume continued to lead up front for the Blasters. Sergio Lobera on the other hand, made just the one change to the side that beat Jamshedpur with Sergio Juste coming in for Bruno Pinheiro at the heart of the defence. Ferran Corominas was deployed up top with Manuel Lanzarote slotting in behind him.

The game got off to an action-packed start as the visitors came out all guns blazing. After CK Vineeth was dispossessed off the ball, Lanzarote made a surging run forward before unleashing a powerful shot that struck the woodwork before going out of play.

Goa would have their lead in just the seventh minute after some excellent work from young Mandar Rao Desai who whose run on the right was picked up well by Brandon Fernandes. Mandar skipped into box before squaring it up to an unmarked Corominas who took one touch to steady the ball before slotting it into the back of the net.

The home side were loose in possession and Goa's pressing caused them all kinds of problems. The Blasters grew into the match slowly and came close to equalize when Jackichand's cross from the right was only half-cleared by the visitors' defence. The loose ball fell to Hanghal whose venomous shot rattled the frame of the goal.

Minutes later the home side would be level after a dreadful goal-kick from Goa custodian Kattimani. Wes Brown headed the ball towards Hanghal who flicked it first time to set up Vineeth and the Kerala forward made no mistake as he slotted the ball past a hapless Kattimani.

The second period started slowly before bursting into life around the hour mark when Vineeth went down under the challenge of Mohamed Ali in the box but the referee asked the forward to get back on his feet.

The home side could have gone ahead a few minutes later when Vineeth did extremely well to take down a long diagonal ball before squaring it up for Courage Pekuson when Hume was the better option. Pekuson's shot was ultimately blocked by the Goa defence. FC Goa would regain their lead 13 minutes before the end of normal time when Edu Bedia headed in Brandon's swinging corner. Hume had a great chance to level just minutes later after a good cross from the right flank but the forward headed the ball straight at Kattimani with the entire goal at his mercy.