Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic admitted it was a great lesson after their 3-3 draw against Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi on Wednesday. The game swung like a pendulum as both teams brought their best to the table.
Chennaiyin FC forward Rahim Ali scored early into the game to put the visitors in front. However, Dimitrios Diamantakos was able to get his team back into the contest with a spot kick.
But Jordan Murray gave a 2-1 lead to Marina Machans as he scored after two minutes with a penalty. Murray then added to Chennaiyin FC’s lead as he found the back of the net in the 24th minute to give a 3-1 advantage to his team.
However, Peprah and Diamantakos scored for the Yellow Tuskers as both teams shared a point.
“It was a great lesson as well for us.When we create good moments during the match and hear the positive chants from our home crowd, all of us including the players feel good,” Vukomanovic said.
“In spite of conceding three goals in the first half, we were talking about coming back in the game in the dressing room,” he added.
The Serbian coach added he wanted to give game time to players like Leskovic, Rahul KP, and Ishan Pandita in order to keep their bench strength ready.
“We wanted to give game time to players like Leskovic, Rahul KP, Ishan Pandita. It is because we are not just a group of 12 or 13 players, we want everybody to feel ready to play and we are happy for them,” Vukomanovic said.
Vukomanovic showered praise on Kwame Peprah, who scored the second goal for Kerala Blasters and helped the team bounce back into the contest after conceding a 3-1 lead.
“I am happy that today he managed to score a goal and he was very useful to our attack. He is the guy who can make the difference one on one,” Vukomanovic said.
“He is a great human being and he can improve more with our other foreign players. I feel that he can show us more things in the future,” he added.
Kerala Blasters FC will next take on FC Goa on Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.
