Kochi: Girona FC gave football lessons to Kerala Blasters as the Spanish top division side thrashed the ISL outfit 5-0 to win the inaugural Toyota Yaris LaLiga World tournament here Saturday.
The home side managed to hold fort till the half hour mark, making all the necessary interceptions and keeping Girona forwards at bay. The Spanish side kept pressing with more possession through the first half, but the defensive formation worked well for David James’ side.
Three minutes before half time, a rare defensive lapse by the Blasters backline led to Eric Montes scoring the first goal of the match, amazingly against the run of play.
The second half saw the home team start with three men at the back with Mohammad Rakip and Prasanth K operating as wing-backs.
Girona midfield kept improving as they played some spectacular one-touch football and created chances. The constant attacking play finally paid off for the La Liga side and the lack of communication between the Blasters goalkeeper Naveen Kumar and defense saw Girona winger Pedro Porro easily push one into the open net to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
Four minutes later, Girona skipper Alex Granell scored the third as Yhoan Many made a superb run down the left to go past Prasanth and cut one in to his unmarked skipper, who made no mistake in putting the ball behind the Kerala goalkeeper.
In the 61st minute an impressive free-kick from Blasters’ Ghanaian import Courage Pekuson almost them their first goal, but for a brilliant save by Girona’s goalkeeper.
It was business as usual then as Aday Benitez’s left footer took Blasters’ defenders deflection to find the back of the net in the 73rd minute.
To add to the home team’s woes, Blasters conceded a penalty in the added time. Aleix Garcia smartly placed the ball into the bottom right corner.
“Playing against a team that features in the top 3 leagues of the world is in itself a big feat. We managed to keep things pretty tight in the first half, the final score line definitely doesn’t suggest the same but I think we looked a much improved side today from the first match,” Blasters coach David James said after the match.
