Bengaluru: Following FC Goa’s 5-1 thumping of ATK in their penultimate league match on Wednesday, the faint possibility of securing a fourth and final ISL play-off berth evaporated for Kerala Blasters, who visit a packed Sree Kanteerava Stadium to face Bengaluru FC, in a largely inconsequential final league fixture on Thursday.
FC Pune City and Chennaiyin FC have already made it to the top four alongside league leaders BFC.
Kerala (25 points) had a sniff but needed Goa (27 points) to either draw or lose against ATK to keep within mathematical distance for the play-offs. Even if a Blaster win on Thursday sees them hypothetically locked on level points with either Goa or Jamshedpur, an inferior head-to-head record will turn the scales against them.
The Blasters had a rough run into the new year with ex-coach Rene Meulensteen getting the axe, which brought current manager David James to the helm.
The former goalkeeper has steadied the ship with five wins in 10 games in charge.
Unbeaten in the last five, James was frustrated by dropped points in their last match against Chennaiyin FC where Courage Pekuson missed a penalty for the home side. Kerala could have been out of the woods well before the Bengaluru game, but recent draws left it all but too late.
