Kerala Blasters aims to maintain their excellent unbeaten run this season in the first game of the new year against Jamshedpur FC in Kochi.
Ivan Vukomanovic’s side went back to winning ways with a 1-0 triumph over Odisha FC while Jamshedpur FC ended their losing streak by drawing 2-2 against FC Goa at home.
KBFC vs JFC Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 3 December 2022
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi
KBFC vs JFC Match Preview
Kerala Blasters looked to have played consecutive draws in the league but Sandeep Singh changed the faith of the game in the 86th minute. The right-back placed a perfect header from substitute Bryce Miranda’s cross to register a 1-0 win over Odisha FC last week in front of the jubilant home support. No better way to end 2022 for the Tuskers with their unbeaten run stretched to seven games. The 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC in the game prior ended their six-game winning streak so returning back to their usual ways was encouraging. Staying at home, Kerala Blasters welcome tenth-placed Jamshedpur FC for the first game in 2023. Three points will again be necessary similar to what happened in the earlier encounter played only last month. Forward Dimitros Diamantakos came up with the only strike that night and will be wishing to get onto the scoresheet once again after two games. Ivan Vukomanovic’s side will face table-toppers Mumbai City FC next Sunday making this match a must-win game for this reason as well. Currently rooted on the fourth spot with 22 points, Kerala Blasters wish to overtake third-ranked ATK Mohun Bagan with the Kolkata club not in action until next week.
Manager Adrian Boothroyd was satisfied to know that Jamshedpur FC finally ended their miserable seven-game losing run in the ISL with a hopeful 2-2 draw against FC Goa. This was the first-ever point for the Men of Steels since claiming a 1-0 win over NorthEast United back in October last year. Overall, they have collected only five points from 11 games but they hope the result will give them some momentum to build in the remainder of the season. Jamshedpur FC got a lucky breakthrough when Iker Guarrotxena’s back pass ended in the back of his own net, the Spaniard scored Goa’s two goals to make up for his mistake, with Ishan Pandita also canceling his goal drought in the 50th minute. Taking all the positives from the game, they look forward to their trip to Kochi to face last season’s finalists. The Men of Steels have not won in their only three visits to this venue and have shared the spoils each time. Boothroyd understands his side have to withstand another crunching battle to pick up at least a point in this clash. Their inspiration could be the 3-0 victory over Kerala Blasters last season in which they won the Winner’s Shield although the squad has undergone massive changes since then.
Recent Form
KBFC: WDWWW
JFC: DLLLL
KBFC vs JFC Team News
Kerala Blasters have a fully fit squad available to them with Ivan Vukomanovic giving the update of the club able to find a replacement for the departed Puitea to ATK Mohun Bagan. However, they have to make up the place for Ivan Kaliuzhnyi who is suspended for reaching the limits of yellow cards in the last game.
Jamshedpur FC have parted ways with Peter Hartley and has brought in Dylan Fox as a replacement. Manager Adrian Boothryod confirmed that the former NorthEast United center-back is available to play the game on Tuesday. Germanpreet is still in need of the physiotherapy department for his injury. He is probably a week to two weeks away from getting back into action.
KBFC vs JFC Predicted Lineups
KBFC: Prabhsukan Gill; Sandeep Singh, Hormipam Ruivah, Marko Leskovic, Jessel Carneiro; Rahul KP, Jeakson Singh, Ayush Adhikari, Sahal Abdul Samad; Adrian Luna, Dimitrios Diamantakos
JFC: Vishal Yadav; Pratik Chaudhari, Dylan Fox, Muhammed Uvais; Boris Singh, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Rafael Crivellaro, Vikash Singh, Ricky Lallawmawma; Daniel Chima Chukwu, Ishan Pandita
KBFC vs JFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Gill (7.5)
DEF: Hormipam (7.5), P Chaudhari (7.5), Leskovic (8), Ricky (8.5)
MID: Boris (8.5), Jeakson (7.5), Sahal (8.5)
FW: Luna (9), Diamantakos (8.5), Emmanuel-Thomas (9)
Vice-captain: Sahal Abdul Samad
Captain: Adrian Luna
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
