Adrian Luna (18th) opened the scoring for Kerala with a stunning goal before Pronay Halder (50th) pulled one back for the Red Miners, who needed one more goal to take the game to extra time but another solid performance by the Kerala backline ensured they held firm to confirm a place in the summit clash.
The result saw Jamshedpur knocking Hyderabad FC off their perch in the table, besides qualifying for the semifinals for the first time.
Goals from Marco Sahanek (45+1) and Antonio Perosevic (55th) managed to split the points either way as Khalid Jamil's men ended the season with only three wins.
NorthEast United now have 13 points from 18 matches. SC East Bengal dropped to the bottom of the heap, having just 10 points from 17 outings.
Goals from Jonathas (61st, penalty) and a last-minute equaliser from FC Goa striker Romario (90+5) meant that neither team would take away three points.
The Blasters stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games and moved to the top owing to a better goal difference than Mumbai City FC. Both teams are on 17 points from 10 games.
Hyderabad FC striker Bartholomew Ogbeche scored in the 39th and 60th minute. Edu Garcia (54th), Javier Siverio (72nd), and Joao Victor (86 P) too got on the scoresheet for Hyderabad in a mind-blowing second-half display.
In a game of two halves, the Gaurs saw themselves take the lead thanks to an Ivan Gonzalez goal before being pulled back in the second half when Odisha struck through their Brazilian striker Jonathas.
ATK Mohun Bagan starts off with a victory against NorthEast United under new coach Juan Ferrando after the Kolkata side registered a thrilling 3-2 win in the Indian Super League game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
Jamshedpur moved to the second spot on the table with 12 points but would rue their missed opportunity to close the gap on leaders Mumbai City.
He faces "sanctions for serious infringement punishable by an expulsion undertaken against Match Officials", according to Article 50 of the Code.
Mumbai City remained on top of the heap but the result meant Hyderabad FC, Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC can now close the gap on the reigning champions.
Odisha now have nine points from four matches, three behind league leaders Mumbai City FC who have 12 points from five games. NorthEast, meanwhile, dropped to ninth with four points from five games.
Cassio Gabriel (3rd), Bipin Singh (17th) Igor Angulo (24th) and substitute Ygor Catatau (70th) were on the scoresheet for Mumbai who now are four points clear at the top with 12 points from five matches.
The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), the international body which provides referees to the English Premier League has come on board as strategic partners in the 'Elite Referee Development Program' project.
Hyderabad jumped to third place courtesy the victory with seven points from four games. The hosts started on the front foot and went ahead as soon as the seventh minute.
Fourteen minutes into the match, Alberto Noguera (14th) scored his first goal of the season with a long-range screamer and gave the Gaurs an early lead.
Mumbai City, who were subjected to a 1-3 loss to Hyderabad FC on the same day, made two alterations. Mandar Rao Dessai started at left-back as Vikram assumed Raynier's place on the right-wing.
It was Javi Hernandez (3rd, 51st minute) who led the charge for Odisha with a brace. While he rode on some luck for his first goal, the second was nothing short of breathtaking from just outside the box.
Vlagyimir Koman (66th minute) scored from the spot to give Chennaiyin a crucial lead, eventually sealing all three points as Hyderabad were left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal, especially in the first half.
Top News
Latest News
