ISL: Top 10 goals in Ivan Vukomanovic's era at Kerala Blasters

Ivan Vukomanovic engineered some of the most audacious goals in the ISL.

After a liaison of three successful seasons, Kerala Blasters finally bid farewell to their beloved head coach Ivan Vukamanovic. The Serbian joined the club ahead of the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) season and has ever since been one of the most beloved and successful managers in the ISL.

Throughout his tenure with the Kerala Blasters, Ivan served as the mastermind behind many incredible goals, and Kerala witnessed some of the best ISL goals under Ivan’s mentorship.

Meanwhile, let us take a look at the top 10 goals in Ivan Vukomanovic’s era at Kerala Blasters.

10. Alvaro Vazquez vs Mumbai City FC (2021-22)

The 2021-22 ISL season is a campaign that will forever be etched in the hearts of the Manjappada, because of the extraordinary level of football that their club displayed throughout the season. 

Kerala’s attacking stalwart Alvaro Vazquez, scored an audacious volley against Mumbai City FC, to take up the 10th position in the rankings. Just a minute into the second half, Jeakson played an accurate ball into the box, and Vaquez expertly turned his body around, and struck the ball on the volley, placing it beyond Nawaz’s reach right into the top left corner. 

9. Vincy Barreto VS Hyderabad FC (2021-22)

Vincy had already been to a flying start in his first ISL season. With his quick pace and great control, the youngster was making a name for himself. But his goal against Hyderabad was the biggest breakthrough moment for him and gained him a lot of popularity across the league. 

It was the dying minutes of the game, when a long ball was launched, and was headed across the edge of the box. Vincy was the first to react, and went straight towards the bouncing ball, and struck the ball with his laces, placing it perfectly into the top left corner. 

8. Adrian Luna VS Odisha FC (2023-24)

Right before his serious knee injury this season, Luna was at the peak of his powers and was carrying Kerala on his shoulders. One such incident occurred in the 84th minute of their game against Odisha. The scores were level, and a win for Kerala was crucial in their title hunt. 

A long ball was launched into Luna’s way, but a deflection drifted it wide into the edge of the penalty area. Luna noticed the keeper off his lines, and without any second thoughts, he chipped the ball to absolute perfection, placing it perfectly beyond Amrinder’s reach. 

7. Adrian Luna VS ATK Mohun Bagan (2021-22)

The master of long rangers – Adrian Luna, unleashed his powers to the fullest in the 2021-22 season, when he scored an absolute banger against ATK. Luna received the ball on the left corner of the penalty box, making it a pretty intricate angle. 

But the Uruguayan somehow managed to strike the ball most perfectly, making it fly high, and then dip suddenly and fall into the top right corner, leaving the entire backline as well as the goalkeeper spellbound. 

6. Ivan Kaliyuzhnyi VS FC Goa (2022-23)

One of Kerala’s most famous ISL wins came in 2022-23 against FC Goa, when they defeated the Gaurs 3-0 at home. The win was made even more special, by an absolute belter Kerala’s Ukrainian thunderbolt, Ivan Kaliyuzhnyi. 

Ivan received the ball from around 25 yards out and found himself pretty isolated. The midfielder wasted no time thereafter, and struck the ball with absolute perfection, making it glide midair, and go past the hands of a full-stretch Dheeraj. 

5. Ivan Kaliuzhnyi VS East Bengal (2022-23)

Kerala’s game against East Bengal was being celebrated like a festival all around Kerala, as it marked the Tuskers’ homecoming, after playing for two years in the bubble. 

That special night was indeed made even more special when in the 89th minute Ivan Kaliuzhnyi scored a tremendous volley and sealed Kerala’s victory. 

Kerala took a corner, that was headed away by East Bengal, into the path of Ivan. The Ukrainian gave no second thought, and straight away hit an audacious volley, that sphere past the entire defense, and smashed the net. 

4. Alvaro Vazquez VS Northeast United FC (2021-22)

Having been in fine form for the past few weeks, Alvaro was filled with confidence heading into the game with Northeast. Late into the game, when the Spaniard noticed Subhashish off his lines, he didn’t hesitate to strike the ball from his half, and boy did he not make himself proud. 

The incredible shot was beyond Subhashish’s reach and went directly into the bottom corner, making it one of the most special goals to have been scored in the ISL.

3. Adrian Luna VS Chennaiyin FC (2021-22)

Luna’s strike against Chennaiyin FC remains to this day one of the best free kicks ever scored in the ISL. More than 25 yards out, Luna struck a near-perfect knuckleball, that first turned towards the right, then to the left, to leave Vishal Kaith clueless, and surrender to the knack of the Uruguayan. 

2. Adrian Luna VS FC Goa (2021-22) 

Number two on the list, is another long-range strike, this time from even further out than the free-kick golazo. Luna received the ball near the touchline, more than 30 yards off the goal post. 

What happened thereon, remains a big mystery, as Luna hit another sensational knuckleball, which twisted and turned the ball mid-air, ultimately ending it up in the top right corner, making it one of the best goals scored in the history of ISL, and certainly the best individual goal in Kerala Blasters history. 

1 . Adrian Luna VS Jamshedpur FC (2022-23)

Kerala’s incredible team goal against Jamshedpur remains to this day one of the best team goals scored in the ISL. The goal was deemed the best goal in the 2022-23 ISL season and is a strong testament to the level of football played in the ISL. It all started with a run by Luna into some open space, who then passed the ball to Jeakson, who was just ahead of the Uruguayan. A quick one-two by the two quickly gave Luna a lot more space to play with. 

Luna found Diamantakos right in front of him on the edge of the box, and his pass was flicked perfectly by the number nine, into the path of an oncoming Giannou, who once again flicked the ball into open space, and gave Luna the perfect opportunity. Luna struck the ball right into the bottom corner and finished off one of the most incredible goals the league has ever seen. 

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