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Kerala Blasters FC interim head coach TG Purushothaman expressed his disappointment as the Blasters played out a 1-1 draw with Hyderabad FC in their final fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The match saw a thrilling start for the Blasters, who took an early lead through Dusan Lagator. Kerala Blasters FC dominated the first half with consistent attacking play, maintaining their lead until a stunning equalizer from Hyderabad FC's Sourav K levelled the score just before halftime. The second half was less eventful, with both teams failing to convert their chances, resulting in a balanced draw at the final whistle. Purushothaman expressed his disappointment with the result, believing his team had the upper hand in gameplay and opportunities. He emphasized the ongoing challenge of converting chances into goals, noting that missed opportunities add pressure on the team. "I think we dominated the game, how we played, and how we created more chances. Conversion is the problem that we are facing. Silly things happen, and we have to work as a team to overcome all these things and come back and score more goals," he said during the post-match press conference. The match featured commendable performances, particularly from Nora Fernandes, who saved a crucial penalty in just his third appearance in the ISL. "In the last three matches, Nora Fernandes has been doing a good job in goal, and hopefully, he will gain more experience. He is a young goalkeeper and a valuable asset for the club, ISL, and the nation," the coach said. Additionally, Purushothaman noted that the team's attacking strategy, which emphasizes playing through the lines, is a key focus in training. "We are working on playing through the lines, which is our attacking pattern, and we have to play more like that to break the opponent's defence. The lines are key in modern football--you have to play through the lines, play forward, play in the opponent's half, and score more goals, create more chances, and convert them into goals," he said. Reflecting on the season, Purushothaman acknowledged the challenges the team faced but also emphasized the collaborative effort among the coaching staff to maintain morale during difficult times. He expressed disappointment over not qualifying for the playoffs, recognizing the team's inability to deliver the desired results for their fans. "We have four coaching staff working together, especially when the club was in a dangerous situation. I think that's the job of a coach or anyone who belongs to the club--to keep up the spirit and work for the club, not for ourselves, but to sacrifice anything for the club and turn things around in a good way," Purushothaman said. "But unfortunately, we didn't make it to the playoffs. That's very disappointing for us. We didn't give anything back to the fans, and that's also a very difficult situation. So, hopefully, let's see what happens next," he added. (ANI)
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