ISL 2017, Live Updates, Kerala Blasters vs NorthEast United FC: Vineeth Heads Kerala Into Lead

Jhingan and Pesic behind Wes Brown have been sticking to their players and well. Good man marking from the defenders has rendered the visitors attack toothless.

Marcinho floats in a cross for Cezario but Rino Anto is alert and heads it out for a corner. 

Marcinho floats in a cross for Cezario but Rino Anto is alert and heads it out for a corner. 

The visitors have suddenly lost impetus in their attack after they conceded the goal. Kerala meanwhile have become more organised and are finishing the first half the stronger of the two sides. 

Kerala are defending in numbers as Cezario is crowded out first and then Jhingan steals the ball away from him. Jackichand clears and NorthEast are rebuilding from the back. 

Vineeth floats in for the captain, Jhingan but he cannot knock it back into the box. 

A few tempers flying after Diaz's foul on Hanghal. But the senior players quickly diffuse the situation and Kerala have a free-kick in a dangerous place.

Marcinho found some space in between the Kerala defense and tried to curl it in past Rachubka, but his shot was well wide. Rather unlike him. 

Vineeth's tail is up and he is looking for the passes through the channels. Sifneos though was just off-side otherwise it could have led to another goal. 

Since taking the lead, Kerala have fallen back and regrouped well in defense and the fact that Wes Brown's experience is making a difference is evident as he is marshalling the defenders along with Jhingan by his side.

The crowd loved that moment, they were rather silent till then, but Vineeth's goal has got the volume going again. 

Half of the first half has gone by, and the visitors are really taking the game to the hosts. 

Half of the first half has gone by, and the visitors are really taking the game to the hosts. 

The NorthEast side have never won a match in Kochi and will look to change that today. 

Jhingan plays it out to Jackichand on the right but he runs out of space and it's a goal kick for the visitors. Jacki on the right is a major outlet for the Kerala Blasters. He can run down the wing tirelessly. 

Narzary's cross is overhit and Marcinho has to go back to the wing to retrieve that. Plays it to Cezario who's through ball wasn't read by Marcinho. 

Cezario uses some good skill to get past Brown and co inside the box, and his shot off the layoff of Marcinho wins a corner. The visitors are knocking on Wes Brown and company's door. 

Iain Hume will be keen on making a mark in the game off the bench today. Meanwhile, it seems Dimitar Berbatov should be back within 4 weeks. 

Vineeth on the left tries to run through the defense on his own, but Nirmal Chhetri keeps him at bay as Rehnesh comes and collects. 

Pekuson's through ball from midfield to Sifneos is well weighted but the striker's finishing is not up to the mark. The NorthEast side breathe a sigh of relief. 

Wes Brown almost releases Sifneos on the left wing, but the ref has pulled play back for a foul on the defender. The striker is understandably unhappy 

Long raking ball out by Nirmal Chhetri from the defense but it's too far out for Rowlin Borges. The visitors have made the better use of possession so far in the first 12 odd minutes. 

Rino Anto stops Narzary on the wing and the visitors have another corner - the third for them. 

NorthEast are trying to work something through the middle but Pesic and Wes Brown have things under control for the hosts. Brown brings some much needed quality in terms of passing to the Kerala team today. 

CK Vineeth wins the ball well in the midfield and plays it out to Jackichand who crosses but Rehnesh collects before Pekuson can score in an empty net. 

Halicharan Nazray finds space outside the box and lets fly a snap shot but it sails over. Seems like the visitors will be shooting on sight

Wes Brown plays a long ball out to Jackichand Singh on the right who is unable to bring it down without handling it. 

The visitors have had a couple of moves in the early minutes and two consecutive corners. The second was cleared emphatically by Sandesh Jhingan 

Both sides have been misplacing their passes in the early stages. But Marcinho finds some space in the box and NorthEast United get the first corner of the game.