Kerala Blasters FC signed off its Indian Super League 2025-26 campaign in style with a hard-fought 2-1 win over FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on Monday.
A stunning strike from Kevin Yoke and a late winner from Fallou Ndiaye secured Kerala Blasters’ fifth victory of the season and capped a remarkable turnaround under head coach Ashley Westwood. The win lifted Blasters to eighth place in the standings with 17 points, while Goa finished just above them in seventh with 20 points.
FC Goa began the match aggressively and controlled the early exchanges with a series of attacking moves. Kerala Blasters, however, managed to withstand the pressure and slowly found rhythm through attacks from both flanks.
Goa goalkeeper Bob Jackson Raj played a crucial role in keeping the hosts at bay during the first half. He intercepted two dangerous passes before they could reach the Kerala forwards, frustrating the home side’s attacking efforts.
The visitors nearly broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Dejan Drazic found himself through on goal. But the Serbian forward failed to make the most of the opportunity, scuffing his shot wide with only goalkeeper Arsh Anwer Shaikh left to beat.
Kerala Blasters also survived a scare just before halftime when Udanta Singh headed wide from an inviting cross delivered by Akash Sangwan.
The home side returned after the break with greater intent. Francisco Feuillassier, popularly known as Franchu, came close moments into the second half when his powerful attempt sailed just over the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 48th minute through Kevin Yoke. The midfielder produced a moment of brilliance with a curling right-footed strike that beat Bob Jackson Raj and sent the Kochi crowd into celebration.
The goal sparked a strong response from FC Goa, which began to push forward in search of an equaliser. Their pressure paid off when Nemil finished confidently from close range after connecting with a low cross from Brison.
Despite Goa’s improved attacking display, Kerala Blasters continued to look threatening on quick transitions, with Yoke remaining influential in the final third.
The decisive moment came in the 81st minute. Goa failed to deal with a corner properly, and poor defending allowed Fallou Ndiaye to find the net and restore Kerala Blasters’ lead.
The victory ensured Kerala Blasters closed a difficult season on a positive note while highlighting the progress made under Westwood in the latter stages of the campaign.
